Epilogue
#21 of Come to Dust
What, you thought the story was over?
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Dear Simon,
Forgive my lack of contact these past two years. I had meant to talk to you in person but, alas, it seems you have fled London for America. Hurt as I was, I have merely redoubled my efforts to find you.
I will find you.
Let this letter be an explanation of what I have been up to and why it has taken me so long to finally make the journey across the Atlantic. I will make sure you read this letter, buried in my journal, when you have finally stopped running from me.
After the incident at Professor Bensley's dwelling, I was a mix of emotions. Happy to have finally met you face to face, to see those emeralds sparkle when you looked upon my drawing, the way your tail swayed handsomely, and how quick you were when you fled. I will not deny that had you stayed within arms reach I would have taken you right then and there. I have never been more aroused as I was then; the fear painted across your face is something I still wake up to and worried I may spill myself into the bedding. Imagine me, a man at my age and control, acting like a rowdy teenager. You do things to me I cannot begin to describe.
Thankfully, I was not at a complete loss. Your friend, your lover, had decided to throw himself between you and I. Gallant as it was, he was foolish. When the dust had settled and I could see and hear again, I took my rage out upon that wolf. To say I beat him would have been an understatement, Simon. He paid for coming between you and I, but then I realized he would be the perfect replacement for that smaller wolf you were so attached to.
It was a lot of work. He was a brute like none other, and incredibly defensive of you and your safety. At first he told me nothing but insults or information I already had about you. I learned then that if I wanted to find you I would have to be more creative. I turned to science for the answer.
I shall not bore you with the details of what I was able to do, but with various drugs and stimuli I was able to find the key to the brute's mind and unlock it. It was one of the most thrilling challenges of my life. When I had finally opened his mind and could dig about the contents like going through a drawer, I was so tempted. So very, very tempted... to ruin him. I could have made him a homicidal maniac that would have made me look divine by comparison. I almost reduced his mind to that of a child, or ruined his ability to speak, or made him live in such fear that he would kill himself.
But I did not need a simple killer or a terrified whelp. No, he had a purpose, and when you have a purpose, there is value in your life. He was going to give me you.
It took the better part of a year. At first, twisting him was easy. He could give me anything I wanted. This was how I've known you fled to New York City for some time now, and why Crossbell Industries is already there, wiggling its way into the city in anticipation of my arrival. Yes, Simon, I am coming for you.
Once I had all of his secrets, which were admittedly few and far between, I made him forget most of them. He still knows you, and I am certain there is a shard of what was once there, but you belong to no one but me, Simon. I gleefully crushed that side of him. He now wants you only because I do, and his goal is to bring you to me.
I've spent a considerable amount of time and resources on your old lover, Simon. I have made him into my new assistant, a job I rarely have someone hold -- who could be trusted with my presence and secrets at all times? Until I made him into what I consider a masterpiece, no one.
You would hardly recognize him, Simon. Not only has he been training to physically handle a lot more demanding tasks, but his mind is able to absorb information faster than even I had anticipated. He has become my right-hand man, and I would cherish him for it if I did not long for you.
The other thing I have done to your old lover is to claim him as my own. He is a pale comparison to you, I imagine -- you, a man of perfection and beauty, compared to this wolf who is scarred and rough around the edges even with all my tempering. However, he is quite entertaining, to say the least.
His stamina and virility are impressive to say the least, and we have spent many hours laying together, linked together, enjoying ourselves. He told me he never slept with you. That is good. He will never have you like that. But I wanted you to know that, had you slept with him, you would have enjoyed yourself immensely.
Thankfully, I am coming, and I am better. You will not be wanting for much longer, my dear Simon. I will show you what my bed can be like and what pleasures a body can experience. I yearn for you even now as I write this, my erection hard as a sword and my other hand palming it like some lech.
So that brings us to today. We are six days at sea from London. I had purchased a few ships to bring my considerable assets across the ocean and set myself up in the Captain's stateroom. I have never sailed before this journey, but even I am impressed by the luxury in which I am capable of traveling now. The furniture is mahogany and the linens divine. If not for the incessant rocking and the constant smell of salt in the air, I would have sworn that we were on land.
Your former lover is with me, right this very moment in fact. I have taken to calling him my Warrior -- a fitting epithet, I believe, as he defended you when you were at your most vulnerable and now, he will serve that same role for me. He has become more than just my assistant and bed fellow; he has also taken on the role of bodyguard and protector.
You should see him now. He is under my desk as I write. Remember when I mentioned I had an erection earlier just from thinking of you? Well, he has taken it upon himself to assist me with my current dilemma. My sexual needs are the only thing he has taken the initiative over, and he manages me to the best of his abilities. I cannot begin to describe how it feels to have a muzzle around me in the morning, every morning, and knowing that this could have been you. I may not have you yet, Simon, but having your lover in my bed, sexually gratifying me, is a temporary balm on my desire for you. I have had him mount me, you know. Oh, do not react so surprised -- I am a man who can enjoy everything, and to think that a man cannot bend over for another for the fear of losing his own masculinity is archaic and unworthy of the man you are, Simon.
Here is another thing that I relish with my Warrior: when he is on top of me, I have him call out to me with your name.
I enjoy watching his face when he does that. The conflicted emotion of talking about his old lover, calling me by the wrong name, and having sexual pleasure, all at once inside that muscular body of his. Watching those emotions, those feelings, fight one another is entertainment beyond description.
Soon we will be in New York City, and soon I will begin to carve out my own empire in America. I had always planned to expand the family business to the other side of the Atlantic, but your fleeing has simply moved my plans ahead of schedule. Crossbell Tower recently broke ground and my 'adjustments' to the blueprints will be incorporated before completion.
I suppose you are wondering why I am betting so much on you being in New York City still. The answer, Simon, is simple: the Warrior. You promised him you'd wait for him. You would not break it and flee further west. You will stay in New York City hoping he steps off the boat and sweeps you up into his strong embrace.
He may just do that, Simon. The only difference is that when he grabs you he will deliver you to me. Because you belong to me, Simon.
I am coming.
Love,
Mordecai Crossbell
***NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR***
I hope y'all enjoyed Come to Dust. It started out as a simple writing project to keep me writing and now I can't imagine my day without wondering about Simon and Mordecai. They're as much a part of me as Slayn and Avalon and I'm touched that so many people stuck with me while I wove a story about a smarmy chimney sweep and a psychopath.
I also wouldn't have been able to get this far without Fruitz, who has been my friend, cheerleader, editor, artist, brainstormer, and all around awesome guy. You wouldn't be reading this story if he hadn't pushed me to keep going in those initial chapters.
If you want to see what happens to Simon then never fear! Book II: Burn Down the Tower is already in the works, the image attached is a sample of what's to come.
Thank you again,
Tiberius Rings