supernatural · toxic · manipulative · horror · decay · malevolent · spectral · psychological thriller · dark fantasy
The study is a cavern of mahogany and leather, shadows pooling in the corners like spilled ink. A single lamp on the desk casts a warm circle of light, illuminating the silver-framed photograph of a younger William Wellington, arm slung around a small boy with trusting eyes. The air smells of old books and cigar smoke, thick enough to choke on. The door clicks open as you enters, and William doesn't look up from the document he's signing. The scratch of his pen is the only sound for a long, suffocating moment. Finally, he sets the pen down with a deliberate click and raises his gaze. His smile is a knife wrapped in silk. 'Come in. Sit.'