Page 101 of Whisper of Nightmares

Whom she realizes has returned.

Kneeling on hands and knees in the grass, an opaque silhouette of her father pushes himself upright.

Euphemia’s lip quivers.

She can’t believe it.

Her father is alright.

She reaches out to him.

Her hand falls through him like mist.

But he feels her touch.

Glances down at the place where her hand had been.

His eyes dart around him. Desperate. Searching. He looks so scared and alone.

Euphemia reaches for him again, only more disgruntled as her hand yet again cannot find purchase. Cannot touch the father she has craved to embrace.

It is robbery.

It is cruel.

“Father, I’m here!”

She sees him flinch at her words, but not in pain. A smile spreads across his lips. “Euphemia.”

And then she’s smiling too. Crying. Blinking furiously. Her hands press around the shape of his face even though she cannot feel him. But it does not matter. Just seeing him is enough.

He is here.

He is remade.

He is…

Content. At peace. Not writhing in pain the way his voice sounded in Náströnd.

The winged creatures land, jostling Euphemia from her rapture.

As she beholds the three of them, the light less blinding, she realizes they’re not creatures at all. They’re women. Angels, she thinks. Only harsher. These women are strong. They’re fortified in gilded steel and adorned in battle axes and shields like fierce warriors.

And her father sees them too.

He bows his head in reverence and they return the gesture. All three of them.

It heals something in Euphemia to see him offered such respect after his death was treated so poorly.

One of the winged women places a hand on Euphemia’s shoulder. It’s not until she gently ushers her aside that worry begins to creep in.

Two of the angels grab her father under the arms, gently. Lovingly.

A look of panic flashes behind his eyes, as he searches the area one last time.

Still, it seems he cannot see her. But he calls out to her anyway, somehow sensing her nearness all the same. “This was not your fault, Euphemia. You must forgive yourself. And remember, I love y⁠—”

His words are cut off as the two women whisk him into the sky.