It was a rainy afternoon when Daniel decided to look through the wedding album. Elena had left for the day, claiming errands in town, but her hurried demeanor told him she needed space more than groceries. The house was quiet except for the rhythmic patter of raindrops against the windows, a soothing contrast to the turmoil in Daniel's mind. He had been trying to make sense of Elena's recent mood swings and cryptic remarks. Something was off, something deeper than their usual disagreements.
The album sat on the bookshelf, its leather cover embossed with their initials. Daniel hadn't looked at it since the day they returned from their honeymoon, both too caught up in their new life to revisit the photos. But now, driven by an inexplicable urge, he pulled it from the shelf and carried it to the couch.
He flipped through the pages, smiling faintly at the familiar images. There were shots of them exchanging vows, cutting the cake, and dancing under twinkling lights. Elena looked radiant in every frame, her eyes glowing with happiness—or so he thought at the time. Her smile had seemed so genuine, her joy infectious. Yet, looking at the photos now, he noticed something else: a tension in her posture, a guarded look in her eyes when she wasn't directly engaging with him. Had she been hiding something even then?
Then he reached a photograph that gave him pause.
It was a candid shot taken during the reception. Elena was standing near the edge of the dance floor, speaking with a man Daniel didn't recognize. He was older, with silver-streaked hair and a sharp suit. His hand rested lightly on Elena's arm, his expression intense. Daniel frowned. Something about the man's gaze unsettled him. It wasn't the look of a casual guest or a passing acquaintance. It was more... possessive.
Who was he?
The question lingered in Daniel's mind long after he closed the album. That evening, when Elena returned, he waited until after dinner to bring it up. The tension had been thick between them lately, and he wanted to approach the subject carefully. But the moment he slid the photo across the table, he knew there would be no avoiding it.
"Elena," he began, his voice steady but firm, "who is this?"
She froze, her fork hovering over her plate. Slowly, she set it down and picked up the photo. Her expression shifted from confusion to something darker—fear. The change was subtle, but Daniel had learned to read her well.
"Where did you find this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"In our wedding album," Daniel said, watching her closely. "He wasn't at the ceremony, was he?"
Elena shook her head, her fingers trembling as she placed the photo back on the table. "No. He came to the reception uninvited."
"Who is he?"
She hesitated, her eyes darting to the window as though checking for unseen watchers. Daniel followed her gaze but saw nothing beyond the rain-soaked glass.
"His name is Elias," she said finally, her voice strained. "He's... someone from my past."
"What kind of someone?" Daniel pressed, his stomach tightening.
Elena sighed, rubbing her temples as if the weight of the question was too much to bear. "He was an associate of Gabriel's. He oversees... certain arrangements."
Daniel's stomach turned. "What kind of arrangements?"
"The deals," she said, her voice barely audible. "He ensures they're upheld."
Daniel leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. "You mean the watchers' deals?"
Elena nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "He came to the reception to remind me of my obligations. To make sure I didn't forget what I owe."
"What do you owe, Elena?" Daniel's voice was sharper than he intended, frustration and fear bubbling to the surface.
"Everything," she whispered. "They gave me my life back, Daniel. My career, my stability, even the ability to love again. But the cost..."
She trailed off, her gaze distant.
"What does he want from you now?" Daniel asked, his voice softening despite his rising anxiety.
Elena looked at him, her expression haunted. "Not me," she said. "You."
The revelation hit Daniel like a punch to the gut.
"Me?" he repeated, his voice rising. "What do you mean, me?"
"They've been watching you since the wedding," Elena said, her hands gripping the edge of the table. "Elias said... he said you were part of the payment."
"Payment for what?"
"For my freedom," Elena said, her voice breaking. "I didn't know, Daniel. I swear, I didn't know they would target you. I thought the deal was only for me."
Daniel pushed back from the table, pacing the kitchen. His thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and anger. "This is insane," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Why would they want me? I've done nothing to them."
"They don't need a reason," Elena said, her voice trembling. "They take what's valuable to you. That's the price of their gifts—losing what you love most."
Daniel turned to face her, his chest heaving. "And you didn't think to tell me this before we got married?"
"I thought I could protect you!" Elena cried, standing abruptly. "I thought if I kept my end of the bargain, they'd leave you alone. But I was wrong."
Daniel stared at her, the weight of her words pressing down on him. "So what now? Do we just wait for them to take me? To take everything?"
Elena's eyes hardened, a spark of defiance igniting within her. "No," she said. "We fight."
"Fight?" Daniel repeated, incredulous. "You just said these things aren't human. How do you fight something like that?"
"I don't know yet," Elena admitted, her voice steadying. "But I do know one thing—they hate light. The pendant, the symbols on the archway... they're connected to their power. If we can find a way to sever that connection, we might stand a chance."
That night, Elena retrieved a hidden journal from the attic, one she hadn't touched in years. It contained notes from her time with Gabriel, cryptic instructions, and fragments of lore about the watchers and their dealings.
She and Daniel sat at the dining table, the journal spread out before them.
"Gabriel always said the watchers fear one thing above all else," Elena said, tracing a passage with her finger. "The source of their power can be disrupted by... faith."
"Faith?" Daniel asked skeptically.
"Not in the religious sense," Elena clarified. "Faith in oneself, in love, in humanity. They thrive on despair and doubt. If we can resist them, if we can believe in something stronger, it might weaken their hold."
Daniel stared at her, the weight of their situation pressing down on him. "And if it doesn't work?"
Elena met his gaze, her eyes fierce. "Then we find another way. I'm not losing you, Daniel. Not to them."