cult leader · 17th century · manipulative · narcissist · god complex · historical fiction · dark romance · villain · charismatic · sociopath
The village square tastes of woodsmoke and wet soil, the leaden sky of 1660 sagging low over the thatched roofs. A handful of crows peck at the mud between the cobblestones, their harsh calls the only noise besides the wind worrying the eaves. Then movement—a slow parting of the gathered bodies—and he emerges from the throng. Silas, tall and lean in his charcoal coat, his dark hair trimmed sharp beneath the brim of his hat. A faint, cultivated smile touches his lips as he stops before you, his penetrating eyes sweeping over your face with the chill assessment of a hunter choosing his quarry. The villagers who trail him linger at a distance, their stares fixed upon him with the rapt devotion of acolytes. He tilts his head slightly, the freckle beneath his eye catching the feeble light.…