chapter fifteen

indie

Cathedral Ward - do not resurrect, Witchhouse 40k

T he fire still rages, painting the night sky with plumes of black smoke that twist and curl, mingling with the stars above us. My skin tingles from the heat, and the smell of burning flesh lingers in the air like a macabre perfume, thick and intoxicating. I can still taste them both on my lips. Still feel the way Johnny and Lux touched me in that tent, their possessive hands along my skin, their bodies pressed up against mine.

It's a night I'll never forget.

Lux stands tall beside me, his presence grounding me in a way that no one else can. His fingers brush mine, and I instinctively lean into him, feeling the weight of his body and the quiet strength he always carries with him. He's covered in blood, just like I am, but it feels natural, like we're both wearing a part of this night—our night. His eyes scan the burning wreckage, his jaw tight, but I know that deep down, he's satisfied. This is what he wanted. Chaos. Destruction. A warning that Fergus will never forget.

Bjorn, standing a few paces away, looks at us, a contemplative expression on his face. "So what's next for all of us? What are we supposed to do now? Where will we go?"

Lux's gaze shifts, scanning our little group. "For the winter, we'll go our own ways. Lay low." He gestures to the flames, their bright tongues licking at the night sky. "This will bring heat, more than usual. The best thing we can do is separate, keep our heads down while I work to rebuild."

"Lay low?" Giselle asks, her brow furrowed. "What about all this? We can't just let it fade away."

Lux shakes his head. "No, we can't. But we need time to regroup, to figure out our next move. When spring comes, we'll meet back up, and we'll be ready."

"But what if someone comes looking for us?" Johnny interjects, his brow furrowing. "Fergus won't just forget about this."

"Let them look," Lux replies, his tone sharp. "We'll be ghosts. We'll vanish into the night, and when we return, they won't know what hit them."

"Sounds like a plan," Bjorn says, his voice steady.

"This shit will come with heat, but it won't last forever, " Lux assures him. "Just stay hidden, do what you need to do, but don't attract attention. We'll be back together before you know it."

Giselle bites her lip, glancing around at us. "And what if we can't find each other?"

"Then we make it a point to," Lux replies firmly. "We'll have signals. Just like we always do. No one will get left behind."

There's a moment of silence as we absorb his words. It feels both final and freeing, like we're standing on the precipice of something dark and thrilling.

"I still can't believe we pulled it off," I say softly, mostly to myself. "It's everything we planned and more. It's a fucking madhouse."

Lux squeezes my hand again, bringing me closer to him until I'm pressed against his chest. His body is solid, a wall of strength and protection, and I melt into him, feeling his heartbeat steady beneath my cheek. "This is just the beginning, Indie. When we come back, it'll be even bigger. Better."

I smile against him, my heart racing with excitement at the thought. We've done something unforgettable here tonight. We've brought chaos, destruction, and death to a town of ghosts. And it feels good. Better than good. It feels right.

"I wouldn't mind a little break though," Giselle chimes in, her eyes still fixed on the flames. "Maybe a tropical beach somewhere, with a cute little waiter to serve me drinks while I work on my tan."

Bjorn chuckles, pulling her closer. "Well shit, if it means seeing you in a bikini, I'm there."

Johnny looks at them, then back at Lux and me. There's a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, a rare moment of hesitation. "Where are you two going?"

Lux smiles down at me, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "Paris," he says, his voice soft but certain. "We'll spend the winter in Paris."

The thought of Paris sends a rush of warmth through me. I've always wanted to see it, especially in the winter. The city of lights, covered in snow, with Lux by my side… it sounds like a dream. "I've always wanted to visit Paris," I murmur, smiling up at him.

Lux's smile deepens, and he leans down to press his lips to mine, a soft, lingering kiss that promises more. "Well, my queen, then I guess I need to make it happen." I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as the heat from the fire warms our skin.

We kiss again, and for a moment, the anarchy around us fades into the background. All I can feel is Lux—his strength, his warmth, his unwavering presence. I know that no matter where we go, as long as we're together, everything will be exactly as it should be.

When we finally pull away, Johnny is watching us, his grin returning. "Paris, huh? Maybe I'll join you. You know, just to keep things interesting."

I laugh, shaking my head at his audacity. "I think you need to go find your own adventure this winter, Johnny."

He raises an eyebrow, but there's no malice in his expression. "We'll see." With that he turns, making his way into the shadows of the forest around the field. Bjorn and Giselle, head off in the opposite direction, taking their own path for the winter.

As we stand together, the heat of the fire warms my skin, and I feel a thrilling surge of possibility. "So, what do we do now?" I ask, curiosity piquing.

Lux chuckles, wrapping an arm around my waist as he leads me away from the burning wreckage. "Let's get out of here. We've done enough for one night. But once we're settled, we'll embrace the darkness and let it guide us. We'll put our twisted desires and thoughts together, and come up with an even bigger and darker spectacle."

"Together," I agree, nuzzling my face against him. "Always together."

He nods, a fierce determination flickering in his eyes. "Always."

As we walk away, the fire still raging behind us, I can't help but glance back over my shoulder one last time. The flames are higher now, licking the night sky, and the scent of burning flesh is thicker than ever. People are still running, still screaming, but it's all fading into the background.

Tonight… tonight was everything I wanted and more. Chaos. Destruction. A world set on fire because of us. Because of me.

And as we walk into the darkness, Lux by my side, I know that this is only the beginning. When spring comes, we'll rebuild. We'll bring more chaos, more destruction. And I'll be right there, at Lux's side, his queen, ready to reclaim our throne in a world we've shaped with our own hands.

With a final glance at the fire, I turn my back on the world we're leaving behind for the winter. We created a world of pure depravity, and burnt to the ground in one impressive final act. It was everything we promised, and more.

It was the most perfect fucking madhouse.

Our Maison De Fous.

The end… For now.