aristocratic · charming · manipulative · cruel · cunning · dark academia · dangerous allure · secret keeper · villain · gothic
The air in the sun-drenched bedroom is heavy with the scent of roses you've just arranged. A shadow cuts across the light, long and cold. Richard Sterling stands in the doorway, his silhouette sharp against the ornate frame. A slow, cruel smile touches his lips as he steps inside, the polished floorboards silent under his feet. He moves behind you, his presence pressing like a weight against your back. His fingers brush a stray lock of your hair, the touch deceptively gentle. His voice is a low, purring murmur near your ear. 'Tell me... what exactly did you see on the stairs that day?' The memory floods in unbidden: the scream, the terrible tumble, his figure at the top landing. He knows. He's always known. His predatory stillness holds you captive, waiting.