In the Angel's Keeping
A Killian Kendall Expanded Universe Short Story
By Josh Aterovis
Copyright 2026
Epilogue
A couple of weeks later, I stood next to Amalie’s grave, watching my breath puff out into the cold air. The small funeral we’d held to give her a proper burial had been over for some time, but I couldn’t bring myself to go indoors just yet. My visions, my out-of-body experiences — whatever you want to call them — had affected me deeply. Experiencing the horribly traumatic events of Amalie’s final night left me very troubled and, ever since it happened, I’d been quiet and withdrawn to the point where my family had begun to worry.
I looked over at the angel statue. I was somewhat comforted by the idea that the angel was there to watch over Amalie at last. It was ironic that Judy's research had revealed that Amalie herself had it placed there in memory of the captain, whom she had thought lost at sea. The angel looked so sad. I knew how she felt.
“You’re going to have to let it go, you know,” a voice said from behind me, causing me to jump.
I turned to find Judy leaning against a tree, watching me with a concerned expression.
“It’s not so easy.”
“No, I don’t imagine it is.” She walked slowly to my side. “It’s the past, Killian. It all happened almost two hundred years ago. There’s nothing that can change it now. We’ve done what we could. And I believe it’s what Amalie wanted. She can rest in peace at last.”
“I know in my head that it all happened a long time ago, but feeling it, living it the way I did...it’s hard to convince my heart that it’s ancient history. It hurts just as much as if I’d lost a close friend...again.”
She took my hand. “I’m sorry, dear heart. I know so little about your sort of gifts. I wish I could have prepared you better for what happened. I had no idea it would be such a powerful experience. We need to get you trained as quickly as possible. You must understand your gifts if you hope to control them instead of them controlling you. If you did, maybe they wouldn’t have taken you over so completely.” She looked into my eyes. “You have powerful gifts, Killian. We’re still learning just how powerful. It’s not something you want to leave unchecked.”
I nodded. I knew she was right.
Judy slipped her arm around my waist. “Come on. Let’s go inside with everyone else.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Okay, but don’t stay too long.”
She kissed me softly on my temple and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.
I stood for another minute and then turned to leave. I’d only taken a few steps before I felt a presence behind me.
Amalie stood in the shade of the trees, holding the baby.
The hair stood up on my arms, but I wasn’t afraid. The energy was different. She felt like an old friend.
She smiled at me for the first time ever, then she and her son slowly faded away. A profound calm settled over me, certain they were finally reunited.
“Rest well, Amalie,” I whispered.
I turned and started toward the house, to return to the living, leaving the dead and the past behind me, where they belonged.
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