I stared at the enormous door.
My heart was pounding so loudly that I could barely hear anything else.
The same golden symbol that had appeared on my ankle was carved into its center.
"What is behind it?" I whispered.
Darius didn't answer immediately.
"Something your grandmother spent her entire life trying to keep asleep."
I looked at him.
"Then why does the queen want it open?"
"Because she believes she can control what is inside."
"And can she?"
Darius shook his head.
"No."
"Then why risk everything?"
"Power makes people believe they are stronger than they really are."
Shawshank moved closer to me.
"Bjei, we need to leave."
I looked at Darius.
"You're my father."
He nodded.
I expected to feel happy.
Instead, I felt empty.
For years, I had wondered what it would feel like to finally meet my father.
I had imagined running into his arms.
I had imagined asking him why he left.
But now that he was standing in front of me, I had too many questions and not enough trust.
"Why didn't you come for me?"
Pain crossed his face.
"I tried."
"When?"
"Many times."
"Then why didn't I see you?"
"Because I wasn't allowed to reach the surface."
"By the queen?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Darius looked at Shawshank.
"Because your mother made a deal."
Shawshank's expression hardened.
"What deal?"
Darius looked back at me.
"She agreed to keep you hidden in exchange for my freedom."
My eyes widened.
"My mother did that?"
"Yes."
I shook my head.
"No."
"She thought she was saving both of us."
"Then why did she never tell me?"
"Because she knew the moment you learned the truth, the sea would awaken inside you."
I looked down at my ankle.
The golden mark had returned.
It pulsed faintly.
"What does that mean?"
Darius stepped closer.
"It means your power is waking."
I stepped backward.
"I don't want any power."
"You don't get to choose."
Shawshank took my hand.
"You don't have to face it alone."
I looked at him.
Something about those words made my chest ache.
Darius noticed.
His expression changed slightly.
"You care about him."
I looked away.
"Shawshank saved me."
Darius studied him.
"That isn't what I asked."
Shawshank remained silent.
I didn't know what to say.
Before I could answer, the enormous gate trembled.
A deep sound came from behind it.
BOOM.
I jumped.
Darius turned toward the gate.
"She is here."
"Who?"
"The queen."
Shawshank looked toward the entrance.
"We need to move."
But the passage behind us suddenly filled with light.
A woman's voice echoed through the chamber.
"There's nowhere left to run."
The queen appeared.
Behind her stood several guards.
I instinctively moved closer to Shawshank.
The queen smiled.
"Bjei."
Darius stepped in front of me.
"You won't touch her."
The queen laughed.
"After all these years, you're still protecting her."
"She is my daughter."
"She is more than that."
The queen's eyes moved toward me.
"She is the key."
I shook my head.
"I'm not a key."
The queen smiled.
"That's what your grandmother wanted you to believe."
"What did she know?"
"Everything."
"Then tell me!"
The queen slowly approached.
"Your grandmother discovered what lies beneath this kingdom."
"And what is that?"
"A power older than the sea itself."
The gate behind us shook again.
The queen smiled.
"It has been sleeping for centuries."
Darius's voice became cold.
"And it will remain asleep."
The queen looked at him.
"Not for long."
She raised her hand.
The guards moved forward.
Shawshank stepped in front of me.
Darius stood beside him.
For the first time, I realized something.
They weren't enemies.
They were both protecting me.
The queen looked at them and laughed.
"You actually believe you can stop me?"
Then the golden mark on my ankle suddenly burned.
I cried out.
"Bjei!"
Shawshank grabbed me.
The chamber filled with light.
The ancient gate began opening.
Slowly.
Painfully.
A narrow crack appeared.
Cold darkness poured through it.
Everyone went silent.
Something breathed behind the gate.
Once.
Twice.
Then a voice whispered my name.
"Bjei…"
The queen's smile vanished.
Darius looked terrified.
Shawshank pulled me against him.
"What is that?" I whispered.
Darius stared at the opening.
"The reason your grandmother sacrificed herself."
The gate opened another inch.
A pair of enormous golden eyes appeared in the darkness.
And then the voice spoke again.
"Finally… my daughter has returned."