“It’s funny how fragile human beings are.” he said.

“Is it? I’m sorry, I forgot to laugh. Ha, ha, ha.” she coughed blood and other such fluids onto his face with the last syllable. He took a handkerchief out of a pocket in negative space and delicately wiped his cheek.

“No, I don’t suppose you would find it amusing. Perhaps it is not funny so much as...amazing.” he looked at the handkerchief speculatively and after brief thought gently dabbed her forehead with it, careful not to scratch her. She made an attempt on his hand, which he pulled away reflexively. She glared at him defiantly, daring him to reprimand her. He shook his head and sighed, patting her hair patronizingly. She tried to bite him again, but the angle was bad. He continued his train of thought. “What I mean is this: I can not be hurt – not as easily as you can, at any rate – and so I find your pain... intriguing... because I can never feel it.”

“If you would like to, I’m sure it could be arranged.”

He smiled grimly. “Thank you, but no. I have no desire to become any closer to hatred than I am, though it is in my power. The reverse is also true.”

“So you say.”

“It is true. I don’t expect you to trust me, but if you’re not going to accept my truth or my offer, at least stop interrupting me.” he paused and looked pointedly at her, as though expecting an affirmation of some sort. She sulked. Taking this for acquiescence, he continued. “Now, the study of– ”

“Think I could get some water or something?” she smiled sweetly up at him and he pursed his lips. Removing a glass of water from the same place he had acquired the handkerchief, he calmly upended it over her head.

“Now listen, because this is important for you. Pain is a learning experience, so–”

“That must make you pretty dumb then. I mean, if you can’t feel pain, then you don’t learn from it...”

“Must I remove your vocal cords?”

“I’m not really sure how much good that would do, but you’re welcome to try.”

He passed a clawed hand over his eyes, breathing slowly, reminding himself of the necessity of this session. “Look,” he said. “at this rate, you will never grow. Can’t you accept that I have things to teach you?”

“Oh yes. So far you’re doing a bang-up job. I’ve learned so much.”

“If you would just listen for once–”

“I don’t need to listen to you. I’ve learned plenty on my own. I’ve learned that you’re a pain – literally! – and I don’t intend to have anything more to do with you. So keep talking, friend, because you can’t keep me here for eternity. It’s only a matter of time...”

“Don’t you understand that I am not the one who is causing this pain? I don’t even know what pain is. These chains, this blood: this is self-inflicted. You’re only blaming me, and so you perceive me to be the instrument of your suffering. You can change all of this with a thought.”

“Lies.” she felt herself growing stronger, waking. He sensed it as well.

“One of these times we’ll have to meet in a coffee house or something. Somewhere less forbidding.” he looked dolefully around at the environs to which she’d confined him. It was not at all comfortable. His horns kept scraping the ceiling. “Perhaps someday you’ll give me a new incarnation as well.” he mused, though not at all hopeful. She stood, the chains melting away, the wounds vanishing, he skin clean once more.

“Until next time,” she said, a triumphant smile on her face as she left her reverie.

Left alone once more, Love sat dejectedly in the spot she had just vacated. She thought her ability to reason and escape from him time after time was a victory. In his prison, he wept for his jailor.