"My daughter has finally returned."
The voice came from beneath us.
I couldn't move.
The sea around my waist had turned completely black, as though someone had poured ink into the water.
Shawshank pulled me closer.
"Don't answer."
"But it's calling me."
"I know."
Darius stood several feet away, staring into the darkness.
"It's him," he whispered.
I looked at him.
"Who?"
He didn't answer.
"Darius!"
His eyes remained fixed on the water.
"The one who should have remained asleep."
A sudden wave rose around us.
I screamed.
Shawshank wrapped both arms around me.
"Hold on!"
Something brushed against my leg.
I cried out.
"Something touched me!"
"I know."
"What was it?"
"I don't know."
I almost laughed despite my fear.
"That's your favorite answer."
He looked at me.
"This time, I'm serious."
Another wave crashed over us.
Then the darkness beneath the water began glowing.
A face appeared.
Not a human face.
A huge, beautiful face with golden eyes.
I couldn't breathe.
The creature looked directly at me.
"Bjei."
I felt the strange pull again.
My body wanted to move toward it.
Shawshank held me tightly.
"No."
The creature's eyes narrowed.
"Release my daughter."
Shawshank shook his head.
"She isn't yours."
A deep laugh echoed through the sea.
"You know nothing about her."
"Then tell me."
The creature looked at him.
"You would not survive the truth."
I felt anger replacing my fear.
"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!"
The creature's eyes returned to me.
"You have your mother's courage."
I swallowed.
"You know my mother?"
"She was once mine to protect."
"Where is she?"
Silence.
"Where is Angela?"
"She came willingly."
"Why?"
"To correct her mistake."
"What mistake?"
The creature's voice became softer.
"Giving you away."
My heart stopped.
"Giving me away?"
Darius immediately looked at me.
"Don't listen."
I turned toward him.
"What does that mean?"
He didn't answer.
"Darius!"
The creature laughed.
"Ask him."
Darius looked ashamed.
I felt my stomach twist.
"You knew?"
"I knew some of it."
"How much?"
"Enough to know that your mother didn't abandon you."
I shook my head.
"Then what happened?"
Before he could answer, the sea suddenly became violent.
A massive current pulled me away.
"Bjei!"
Shawshank grabbed my wrist.
But my fingers slipped.
I was dragged into the darkness.
"SHAWSHANK!"
I heard him shouting my name.
Then everything disappeared.
I couldn't see.
Couldn't hear.
Couldn't breathe.
I felt myself sinking.
Deeper.
Deeper.
Until something caught me.
A pair of arms wrapped around my body.
I opened my eyes.
A man was holding me.
His face was hidden in the darkness.
I tried to scream.
He placed a finger against my lips.
"Don't be afraid."
His voice sounded familiar.
My heart pounded.
"Who are you?"
He pulled me closer.
"You know me."
"No."
"You've seen me before."
"Where?"
He smiled.
"In your dreams."
I stared at him.
Then suddenly, I remembered.
When I was younger, I used to dream about a man standing beside the sea.
I had always thought he was imaginary.
But it was him.
"You…"
He touched my cheek.
"I watched you grow."
"Why?"
"Because I wasn't allowed to come for you."
"Who stopped you?"
"The queen."
"Why?"
He looked away.
"Because she feared what you would become."
I swallowed.
"What am I?"
He smiled sadly.
"The bridge between two worlds."
The water around us began glowing.
I saw something behind him.
A huge underwater city.
But it wasn't the kingdom I knew.
It was older.
Darker.
Abandoned.
"What is this place?"
"Where you were born."
My heart stopped.
"I was born here?"
"Yes."
"Then why was I taken away?"
"Because the prophecy said you would destroy it."
I stared at him.
"That's impossible."
"Prophecies don't care what we believe."
He slowly released me.
"Your mother thought she could change yours."
"Can she?"
He looked into my eyes.
"She already has."
Suddenly, I heard Shawshank's voice in the distance.
"Bjei!"
The man turned.
"He is coming."
I looked toward the sound.
"Shawshank!"
The man grabbed my wrist.
"Before you go, remember this."
"What?"
"Your mother didn't send you away because she hated you."
"Then why?"
"Because she loved you enough to lose you."
He released me.
A powerful current pulled me away.
I reached for him.
"Wait!"
He smiled.
"You'll see me again."
Then he disappeared.
I was thrown upward.
The water around me exploded.
"Bjei!"
Shawshank caught me.
I clung to him, shaking.
"What happened?"
I looked into his eyes.
"I met him."
"Who?"
I opened my mouth.
But before I could answer, Darius appeared beside us.
His face was filled with terror.
"You saw him?"
I nodded.
"Who was he?" Shawshank asked.
Darius looked at me.
Then toward the darkness.
Finally, he whispered:
"The man who gave you your life."