THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK ©1998 by BARMARA TARN THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK - Epilogue Louis was strolling along the country road when he heard a coach coming. He moved on the roadside to let it pass and was very surprised when the anonymous carriage stopped in front of him. The door opened and a face similar to his winked from the inside. "Jump in" Philippe ordered. Louis obeyed, perplexed. Philippe closed carefully the curtains, isolating them from the world outside while the coach started moving slowly once again. "What do you want?" Louis asked a little worried, while Philippe stared at him thoughtfully. "We're alone, finally" the later said. "Like when we met again, remember?" "No" Louis admitted. "When D'Artagnan, our father, asked you to have mercy on me and you shouted at him you wanted his head or those of the other three" Philippe explained patiently. "They left us alone and you took your bad temper out on me." "Athos avenged you in the Bastille's corridors" Louis said quickly, embarrassed by those memories. "I wasn't thinking of revenge" Philippe retorted, amused, amazing his brother. "I was thinking at the two of us." "And the game of living mirrors?" Louis asked, uncertain. "That one exactly" Philippe smiled. "No" Louis said lowering his eyes. Till that moment they were sitting one in front of the other, but Philippe moved near his twin. "Why not?" he whispered in his ear drawing him closer. "You like going with men too, now. "But we're brothers" Louis objected. "So were we when you fucked me while you were still king" Philippe observed mockingly, slipping a hand into his brother's shirt and caressing his nape of the neck with the other. Louis wheezed rashly and stared fearful at his twin who smiled before giving him a long kiss on the mouth. Funny, it was like kissing yourself. Louis was carried away by his brother's passion, stunned by that strange exchange of caresses with his lookalike once upon a time so much feared and hated. He had raped him and Philippe in return covered him with sweetness! Remorse curiously mixed itself with the climax of senses. "Enough!" he panted. "Philippe, stay out of my life!" "All right" Philippe accepted, satisfied. "Dress up, brother, and farewell." Louis got off the coach still confused by what had happened. But Philippe had had what he wanted and now could continue his own way without disturbing his no more royal twin anymore.