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Loki turns his head, but whatever he's about to tell me is most likely not what I need to hear. "News flash, kid. Nobody makes their parents proud."
I try not to get too angry. It's hard for me to open up. Luckily, Ash is a little more understanding. "I doubt that's true, Raven. From what I've seen, you're one of the most resilient women I've ever met. I don't know your mom, but she probably loves you more than you care to admit."
I blush and hold back the urge to sink into his chest. To kiss him like I did the night before.
"I hope so," I say. "But I think I took the wrong path in life. I took advantage of the world's carelessness. How can she forgive me?"
"You were just trying to survive," he says. "People will do whatever it takes to feel safe. It's only natural. You can't blame them for it."
I shake my head and disagree. It's not that simple. I made a choice. "It's true that I didn't know the full scope of what I was getting into, but eventually, I knew my role was to make the rich even richer. Innocent people were affected. Their life savings were funneled into the hands of the corrupt. God, just thinking about it makes my blood boil."
Heimdall brings the car into a large dirt lot in front of the ranch. "If only you could do something to bring
them down," he says.
A lump forms in my throat that's too hard to swallow down. I feel the USB stick inside of my pocket, but I don't pull it out because I still don't know exactly what we're trying to achieve by being here.
"Yeah," I say. "If only."
Ash looks into my eyes and reassures me some more. "You're far away from all that crap, now. The past is irrelevant," he says. "From here on out, we look to the future."
He's right, but it's harder than hell to move past an identity that has formed the last decade of your life. And though it's all behind me, I'm often stuck wondering if the company will come after me.
It's an irrational fear. They're just an investment firm, after all. Still, I've seen the effects money can have on people. Some people would do anything to keep that power going. If they find out I took that USB, which they most certainly will, what will they do to stop me?
I could take them down, but--
I'm just a nobody. I haven't done anything with my life. I definitely don't feel like a hero.
Heimdall stops the car, and dust settles around the exterior. An old man with two wolves is sitting on an old rocking chair out front, pipe carefully resting in his palm. He looks tranquil, but when he sees us, he stands with trembling caution.
He looks like he's been waiting for a thousand years for us to arrive.
We step outside and follow Loki's lead. The air is strange, but I'm hoping for the best.
As long as I have Ash by my side, I feel safe.
The sun comes with a hellish heat. The humidity sucking the water right out of my skin. I wipe away a sliver of sweat only to find that more has sprung out.
The wolves come running toward us, teeth extended and tails happily wagging away. They both pounce into the air, nearly tackling Heimdall to the ground. They're wild, but they're nothing like the hellhounds we just faced.
"Hey, now!" Loki shouts. "Down, boys. Down."
"Well, I'll be damned. The prodigal son returns," the old man says. "Did you bring your brother with you?"
"Brother?" I ask.
"Thor," Heimdall says.
"Let's not talk about that asshole right now," Loki says.
Odin is stern, and his face has so many wrinkles that he actually mildly resembles a living tree. He hobbles forward using a decorated cane. At the top is a purple crystal ball, and inside, I can faintly make out dark clouds and lightning.
A storm is coming.
"I thought you weren't ever coming back. Isn't that what you told me? Or am I remembering the events incorrectly?" Odin asks.
Loki runs his hand over his thinly shaved head. "I'm here in the flesh, aren't I?" he asks.
