The Watchmen Novels & Stories

He closed his eyes and let the moment hold him. But the world didn’t forget them. Somewhere beyond the walls, beyond the thin protection of brick and glass, the city whispered its old warnings. Tharien had heard the rumors in the alleys and back rooms—the Watchers who followed the glow of bonds, the Severers who called their work mercy. He’d never seen either with his own eyes. He’d only felt the weight of their presence in the way people spoke about them in half-voices, as if naming such things too loudly might draw their attention.

“Didn’t suppose I’d ever be going for walks oward an area like that.” Ethan loaded his weapon. “Didn’t suppose we’d ever be combating goddamn Watchers.” I tightened my grip on my gun. “This isn’t over.” Above us, the sky shifted again. More systems seemed . The Watchers weren’t simply right here to rule. They had been right here to erase us. My telecel smartphone buzzed. An unmarried message. Unknown: “Welcome to the give up of history.” I smirked. Me: “Not yet.” I joined the team. “Let’s pass.” And we ran towards the war.

"Yes. Stay close, and remember—say nothing." The Watchers of the Sky Border. The very name sent a chill down my spine. Stories of the Watchers had been used to frighten children into obedience for as long as I could remember. Ruthless enforcers of peace, they were said to hunt down monsters and criminals alike, leaving no room for mercy. I stole a glance at his left cheek. There it was—the tattoo of an eagle's wing, just as the stories had described. The black combat attire, the imposing cape, the hood . . . it was all real.

Ines Sutherland's gaze moved from the divorce agreement on the table to me. Her voice was full of impatience. "Arthur Weber, stop being unreasonable. My sister is gone. Taking care of Marcus is the proper thing to do." Marcus Pierce panicked and pushed the gold watch back toward Ines. "Ines, take the watch back. Do not let me cause trouble between you and Arthur." As he spoke, he covered his face and began to cry. "I just have a miserable life. Your sister died too early. I deserve to be alone forever..."

Anaya yelled, her eyes locked on the dark silhouette of Christ Church looming at the far end of the square. Vikram reached into his leather satchel, his fingers brushing past the cold glass of the vial before gripping the shattered silver pocket watch they had pulled from the underground vault. The metal casing was burning hot now, the internal friction of its forced counter-rotation melting the intricate brass gears within. He raised the watch toward the advancing line of shadow entities and slammed his thumb down on the master winding crown.

“It has been years.” The Huntress spoke in a hushed tone as she stepped in front of a large dome made of marble and stone, thin vines spread across the smooth surface. “How fast time flies.” she said with a smile as she approached the wooden doors at the center of the dome and placed her palm on it. “I still remember the day that everything changed...” she chuckled at the thought. “Although none can say whether it was for the best or the worse.” She then took a step back and circled the dome, her eyes wandering over to the niches on the walls, carved in the symbol of the guardians chosen to protect what they must hold dear the most.

Lucien was kept in a separate chamber under watch, no longer a threat but still a reminder of what unchecked ambition could do. The screen flickered to life, showing a clear but simple image. No symbols, no grand displays, just a man and a woman in plain clothing, their faces steady and serious. “We have been watching the events unfold for many days,” the man said. His voice was calm and measured. “We are the Keepers. We did not interfere before because we needed to see the direction this new awakening would take. We have seen what you did to stop Lucien Vey, and we have seen the choices you have made.”

It was when a steward knocked over a bucket of water at the far end of the hall — the sound of it hitting the stone floor sharp and sudden — that the wall came back to me. The watchtower had been completely deserted. That was the first wrongness — not the damage, but the absence. Seven watchmen were assigned to that section of the outer wall at any given time. Seven men do not simply vanish. They do not abandon their post in the night without a body left behind, without a struggle written into the earth, without some evidence that they had existed at all.

The towering brick house sat far back from the street, its windows completely dark. Aria reached out with a trembling, red hand and pressed the silver buzzer on the stone pillar. She waited, her breath pluming in the freezing air. A minute later, the heavy side door of the security booth opened. A tall, broad-shouldered watchman stepped out into the cold, wearing a thick black jacket. He frowned, looking at the disheveled, shivering woman standing on the other side of the iron bars. "Can I help you, miss?" he asked, his tone clipped and entirely professional.

“The Watcher. The girl cannot be allowed to wander free any longer.” Mirelda raised her hand without hesitation, her amber eyes glowing faintly as the ground beneath them trembled. “The Huntsman’s oath binds him to us. He will obey.” A low growl reverberated through the clearing as a towering silhouette formed between the trees. The Watcher stepped into view—an armored beast cloaked in shadows, eyes glowing like coals beneath his mask of bone. His breath was heavy, his very presence bending the branches around him as though the forest feared him.