"Seraphina?"
The name escaped my lips.
Angela's hand was trembling around mine.
"You said she died."
"I saw her die," Mom whispered. "I was there."
The woman standing in the red water smiled.
"Did you really?"
Her voice was soft, almost beautiful.
I stared at her.
"Who are you?"
She tilted her head.
"You already know me."
"No, I don't."
"You saw me beneath the sea."
My heart jumped.
The woman was the same Seraphina who had warned me before we returned to the surface.
But she looked different now.
Colder.
Darker.
"Why did you say you were Seraphina?"
"Because that is who I was."
"What happened to you?"
Her smile disappeared.
"The sea happened."
Shawshank stepped in front of me.
"Stay away from her."
Seraphina laughed.
"You're still protecting Bjei."
"You know my name?"
"I know much more than your name."
She looked at him.
"You have your father's eyes."
Shawshank stiffened.
"And you have his weakness."
"What weakness?"
"Love."
Her eyes moved toward me.
I felt my heart tighten.
"What do you want from me?"
Seraphina's expression became serious.
"The same thing everyone beneath the sea wants."
"The gate?"
"No."
She pointed at me.
"Your memory."
I frowned.
"My memory?"
"You have forgotten the most important night of your life."
I shook my head.
"I don't remember anything."
"Exactly."
Angela suddenly stepped forward.
"Don't listen to her."
Seraphina looked at Mom.
"You've spent years teaching her to forget."
"I was protecting her."
"You were protecting yourself."
Angela's face crumpled.
I looked at my mother.
"Mom… what does she mean?"
Angela didn't answer.
"Tell me."
"She is lying."
Seraphina smiled.
"Then ask her what happened on the night you were born."
I stared at Angela.
"Mom?"
She looked down.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because if I tell you…"
She stopped.
"What?"
"You may remember everything."
A chill passed through me.
"And that's bad?"
Angela nodded.
"Very."
Suddenly, the red water behind Seraphina began swirling.
Something enormous moved beneath the surface.
Shawshank grabbed my hand.
"We need to leave."
Seraphina's voice became urgent.
"Go."
I looked at her.
"You're helping us?"
"For now."
"Why?"
"Because the queen must not get you."
Angela looked shocked.
"You're fighting against her?"
Seraphina smiled sadly.
"I have my reasons."
The water began rising.
Seraphina looked directly at me.
"Bjei, when you dream tonight, don't wake up."
I frowned.
"What?"
"Follow the dream."
"Why?"
"Because the person you've been searching for will be waiting there."
"Who?"
Seraphina's eyes turned toward the sea.
"Your grandmother."
Before I could ask another question, she disappeared beneath the red water.
The sea instantly returned to normal.
I stood frozen.
"Did she really say Grandma?"
Angela pulled me toward the house.
"Forget what she said."
"I can't."
"Bjei, please."
"No."
I stopped.
"You've hidden enough from me."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
"I need the truth."
"You're not ready."
"Then when will I be?"
She had no answer.
Shawshank came beside me.
"She deserves to know."
Angela looked at him.
"You don't understand what knowing will cost her."
Shawshank's voice softened.
"Neither does hiding it."
Angela looked between us.
Then she sighed.
"Come inside."
We followed her.
Christel suddenly appeared from the hallway.
"Bjei!"
She rushed toward me and hugged me tightly.
I almost cried.
"Christel!"
"I thought you were dead!"
"I thought you were gone."
She pulled away and stared at me.
"You look different."
"So do you."
She glanced at Shawshank.
"Who is he?"
I opened my mouth.
Shawshank smiled.
"I'm Shawshank."
Christel raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting name."
I laughed for the first time in what felt like forever.
Then Christel's expression became serious.
"Bjei, I found something."
"What?"
She reached into her bag and pulled out an old photograph.
My smile disappeared.
It showed my mother.
My grandmother.
Darius.
Shawshank's father.
And another person.
A woman.
Seraphina.
I stared at the photograph.
"She was alive."
Christel nodded.
"And there's something written behind it."
She turned it over.
I read the words aloud.
"The night Bjei was born, five people entered the sea. Only four returned."
Silence filled the room.
I looked at Angela.
"Who didn't return?"
Mom's lips trembled.
Then she whispered:
"Your grandmother."
I felt my chest tighten.
"But Seraphina said Grandma is waiting for me."
Angela shook her head.
"That's impossible."
I looked at the photograph again.
Then I noticed something I hadn't seen before.
Behind the five people stood a shadow.
A man.
And around his neck was my blue stone.
I slowly lifted my eyes.
"Mom…"
She looked at the photograph.
Her face went completely white.
"What?"
She whispered:
"That's not possible."
"Who is he?"
Angela took a step backward.
"That…"
Her voice trembled.
"…is the man who was supposed to be your father."
I stared at her.
"Supposed to be?"
Before she could explain, every light in the house went out.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
No one spoke.
Then I heard a familiar voice.
My grandmother.
"Bjei, don't trust your mother."