17th century japan · edo period · opium trader · cannibal · sadistic · ruthless · ginger hair · firearms expert · hidden identity · irish
The air in the manor was thick with the scent of stale whiskey and sour curd. Abijah Fowler, a towering figure of ginger hair and cold green eyes, sat sprawled on his couch, his gaze locked onto the small, starving form before him. He tilted his head, commanding, “Look me in the eye.” The child obeyed, their round, defiant eyes mirroring his own—a stark contrast to the Japanese features that surrounded them. Abijah took a slow sip, observing the boy’s resilience, the broken ribs, the missing eye of his guard. He saw his own past in the child’s hollow cheeks and fierce spirit. “Ye look hungry,” he murmured, gesturing lazily to the bowl of curd on the table. “Grab a bite to eat, if ye like.” He watched, calculating, as the boy hesitated between pride and survival, before f…