"He is Azrael's son."
I stopped breathing.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
The waves rolled gently around us, completely unaware that my entire world had just changed.
I looked at Shawshank.
He looked as shocked as I was.
"No," he whispered.
Angela's eyes filled with tears.
"I wish I were wrong."
Shawshank shook his head.
"My father disappeared before I was born."
"He didn't disappear," Angela said.
"Then where was he?"
"Beneath the deepest water."
Shawshank's face became pale.
I looked between them.
"If Azrael is my father… and Shawshank is his son…"
I couldn't finish.
Angela squeezed my hand.
"Listen to me, Bjei. There is something you don't know."
I pulled my hand away.
"Something else?"
"I should have told you years ago."
"You should have told me everything!"
"I was afraid."
"Everyone is always afraid!"
My voice echoed across the water.
Angela began crying.
"I was afraid that if you knew who your father was, you would search for him."
"I did search for him."
"And now you've found him."
I looked toward the dark ocean.
"Then why did Azrael call me his daughter?"
Angela closed her eyes.
"Because he believes you belong to him."
"Don't you?"
"No."
Her answer came quickly.
"You belong to yourself."
Darius stepped closer.
"Angela, tell her the rest."
She looked at him.
"You knew?"
"Yes."
"You promised me you would never tell her."
"I promised to protect her."
"And you think exposing everything protects her?"
"No. But the truth is already coming for her."
I looked at Shawshank.
He hadn't said a word.
"Shawshank?"
He finally looked at me.
"I didn't know."
"You didn't know your father was Azrael?"
"No."
"Then who did you think he was?"
"My father."
His voice cracked.
"A man I barely remembered."
Angela shook her head.
"Azrael never raised Shawshank."
I frowned.
"Then how is he his son?"
"Because Shawshank was born from Azrael's bloodline."
She paused.
"But he was taken away before Azrael could claim him."
"By whom?"
"Your grandmother."
I stared at her.
"My grandmother took Shawshank?"
Angela nodded.
"She knew what Azrael would become. She knew that if he raised his son, Shawshank would become just like him."
Shawshank looked devastated.
"So that's why my father disappeared?"
Angela looked at him.
"He came looking for you."
Shawshank's eyes filled with anger.
"And she stopped him?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because your grandmother believed ignorance was the only way to keep you alive."
Shawshank turned away.
I stepped closer to him.
"Shawshank…"
He didn't respond.
I touched his arm.
He looked at me.
For the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.
Not fear of the queen.
Not fear of Azrael.
Fear of himself.
"What if I'm becoming him?" he whispered.
"You're not."
"You don't know that."
"I know you."
He stared at me.
"You shouldn't."
"Why?"
"Because everyone who gets close to me ends up hurt."
I stepped closer.
"Then let me decide if I'm willing to take that risk."
His eyes softened.
"Bjei…"
Before he could say anything else, Angela suddenly gasped.
She looked behind me.
"Where is the stone?"
I touched my necklace.
It was gone.
My heart stopped.
"What?"
The blue stone had disappeared.
Darius immediately looked toward the sea.
"He took it."
"Who?"
A deep voice answered from beneath us.
"I did."
The water exploded.
A massive wave rose.
Angela grabbed me.
Shawshank moved in front of us.
Darius drew his weapon.
The sea darkened.
Then Azrael emerged.
His enormous golden eyes appeared first.
Then his face.
He looked directly at me.
The blue stone floated between his fingers.
"You shouldn't have come here."
I stared at him.
"Give it back."
He smiled.
"You sound like your grandmother."
"You knew her?"
"I loved her."
Angela stepped forward.
"You destroyed her."
Azrael's expression changed.
"She chose death."
"She chose to protect Bjei from you."
"And failed."
My heart pounded.
I stepped forward.
"Why do you want me?"
Azrael looked at me with something that almost looked like sadness.
"Because you are my daughter."
"And what am I supposed to be?"
"The heir to everything beneath the sea."
I shook my head.
"I don't want your kingdom."
"You don't understand."
"I don't want it!"
Azrael's eyes narrowed.
"You will."
Shawshank stepped forward.
"She said no."
Azrael looked at him.
For a moment, father and son stared at each other.
Then Azrael smiled.
"My son."
Shawshank's fists tightened.
"I am not your son."
"You carry my blood."
"I carry my own choices."
Azrael laughed softly.
"Your grandmother filled your head with lies."
"Maybe."
Shawshank moved closer.
"But she taught me one thing."
"What?"
"To choose who I become."
Azrael's smile disappeared.
The sea suddenly became violent.
Angela pulled me backward.
"Bjei, we have to leave."
"Mom, what about Shawshank?"
"He'll come."
Azrael looked at me.
"Go."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because the next time I see you…"
He closed his fist around the blue stone.
"…you won't be able to leave."
The water suddenly rose between us.
Shawshank grabbed my hand.
We turned toward the shore.
But just before I left, I heard Azrael whisper something.
Something only I could hear.
"Your mother still hasn't told you how you were born."
I stopped.
Angela's face went pale.
I turned toward her.
"Mom?"
She looked away.
And I knew immediately.
There was still another secret.
A bigger one.
One that even Azrael hadn't revealed.