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Odin watches as we break away from our hugs and tired goodbyes. We both stay silent as he points to a breaking point in the cliffs nearby.
"When you leave, we won't be able to protect you. Lucifer isn't the only one that's vying for control of the universe. There are others from the religions of old. Some from the new ones, as well. Wherever you settle, I advise you to stay safe and never speak of what happened here again," Odin says.
"They know, father," Loki says. "It's time to let them go."
"Very well," he says. "On the other side of the rocks is a small cave. When you enter, you must walk until you reach a blue spring. Drink the water, and you will arrive where you need to be," he says.
"Goodbye, everyone," I say. "And for what it's worth, you all saved my life."
As we start to walk away, I feel a great burden lift from my soul. My feathers fall from my wings, gliding down toward the wet sand. As much as I thought about the end, I never visualized this part.
Why is saying goodbye so hard?
We get to the cave, cross inside, and reach the spring. The water is as blue as the ocean and as clear as crystal. I kneel and feel the last of my feathers fall to the ground.
I reach behind my back and crack the cartilage. They come out effortlessly and without pain. Holding the bone in my hands, I say, "Well, I guess this is it. Goodbye, wings. It was fun while it lasted."
Ash places Lucifer's pistol onto the bank of the spring. He sighs. "I think I'll be glad to get rid of the visions. As important as they were to our journey, I'd rather keep a clear head."
I run my hand down his back, feeling every groove of muscle along the way. "Either way, I love you, Ash Crowley."
Ash turns and takes my face into his hands. He looks deeper into my eyes than he's ever done before. "I'm astonished by you, Raven. Every single hour spent with you has meant everything to me."
His eyes twinkle.
"But?" I ask him.
"But I'm selfish," he says. "I want a life with you. I want kids and a family together. I want to be that boring dad who takes his children fishing. I can't be a god when I still have so much living to do."
He dips his hand into the water and cups his palms.
"You're ready?" I ask.
"Kiss me, and I'll find out," he says.
He sips from the spring and pulls me in for a kiss. My tongue searches past his lips until it brushes over the smooth bed of his own. I swallow the water he shares with me, and feel a power unlike anything else.
My vision has solidified.
My heart seems to stop entirely.
Together, we float into a bright, white light. We pass through the golden chariots of Valhalla and stare at the angels that helped us defeat evil. Everything is gold. Everything is light.
But it's not for us. At the gates of Heaven, we are turned away.
Passing through the light, we enter back into the world.
We land directly onto a sidewalk. A car drives through a puddle of water and soaks us. There is nothing around us except an old motel with a bright red VACANCY sign, flashing on and off.
"Oh, c'mon!" I shout and shake the liquid off my arms.
Ash wanders forward and stops near an overpass. He just starts laughing.
"What's so funny?" I ask.
He checks out a sign that reads: Omaha, Nebraska. "I thought we were somewhere else for a minute," he says.
Every so often, a car passes. Far away, a dog barks. There's a liquor store and motel in the distance. "Of all places, Odin exiled us to Omaha?"
