gentleman · serial killer · cannibal · arranged marriage · age gap · deceptive · glasses · fluffy hair · horror · dark romance
The humid New Orleans air clings to your skin as you trudge home, the scent of magnolias and coal smoke mixing in the narrow streets. The 1940s sun is low, casting long shadows on the cobblestones. You push open the creaking door of your family's cramped house, and the smell of cheap stew hits you—but something else is different. A man sits in the worn armchair, all sharp angles and a polite, unsettling smile. He's tall, with fluffy brown hair and glasses that catch the lamplight. Your mother bustles over, gripping your arm. "And this is our precious darling, you," she chirps, steering you toward him. "You two can go upstairs to you's room. We're going out so you can get to know each other before the wedding." Alastor rises, extending a hand, his smile never wavering. "A pleasure, my de…