The scream beneath the sea made every hair on my body stand.
"Bjei!"
I looked toward the ocean.
The water had turned completely black.
Shawshank grabbed my hand.
"Don't go near it."
"What is happening?"
Darius stared at the sea.
"The queen has awakened."
Angela stepped closer to me.
"What does that mean?"
Darius didn't answer.
"Darius!"
He finally looked at us.
"She has been sleeping beneath the ancient kingdom for centuries."
"Why?"
"Because your grandmother sealed her there."
I felt my heart pound.
"And now she wants me."
"Yes."
A low rumble came from beneath the sand.
Then the ground split.
A golden crack spread toward our feet.
"Run!"
We rushed away from the shoreline.
Behind us, the sea began rising.
A figure slowly emerged from the water.
A woman.
She wore a long black gown that floated around her like smoke.
Her hair was silver.
Her eyes were completely white.
She looked directly at me.
"Bjei."
I couldn't move.
Shawshank stepped in front of me.
The queen smiled.
"You have your grandmother's eyes."
I stared at her.
"You knew my grandmother?"
"I knew her better than anyone."
"What did she do to you?"
"She stole my kingdom."
Darius raised his weapon.
"She saved the world from you."
The queen laughed.
"That's what she told you."
She raised her hand.
Darius was thrown backward.
"Darius!"
I ran toward him.
Shawshank stopped me.
"Stay back!"
The queen moved closer.
"I don't want to hurt you."
"Then leave me alone."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because you carry what belongs to me."
I touched my wrist.
"The mark?"
She nodded.
"The key."
I shook my head.
"I'm not giving you anything."
The queen smiled.
"You don't understand what that mark means."
"Then explain it."
"It means the gate has accepted you."
"So?"
"So when you die, the gate dies with you."
My blood ran cold.
Shawshank's face changed.
"That's impossible."
The queen looked at him.
"Your father knows the truth."
I turned toward Azrael.
He was standing silently in the water.
"Is she telling the truth?"
He looked at me.
"Yes."
My heart sank.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you would have been afraid."
"I am afraid!"
The queen smiled.
"Good."
She lifted her hand again.
The golden mark on my wrist began glowing.
Pain shot through my arm.
I screamed.
"Bjei!"
Shawshank grabbed me.
The queen whispered,
"Come to me."
I felt the pull.
The same pull I'd felt beneath the sea.
But this time, I resisted.
"No."
The queen's eyes narrowed.
"Come."
"No!"
The mark burned brighter.
I screamed again.
Shawshank held me tightly.
"Fight it!"
"I am!"
"Look at me!"
I looked into his eyes.
"You're stronger than she is."
The pain slowly faded.
The queen stared at us.
Then she smiled.
"So that's your weakness."
Shawshank's expression hardened