"Finally… my daughter has returned."
The voice shook the entire chamber.
I couldn't move.
The enormous golden eyes stared through the opening in the ancient gate.
They weren't human.
They weren't even completely animal.
They looked ancient.
Powerful.
And somehow, strangely familiar.
I clutched Shawshank's arm.
"What is that?"
Darius looked at me.
His face was pale.
"You must not let it come out."
"But it called me its daughter."
"I know."
"Then who is it?"
Darius didn't answer.
The queen stepped forward.
For the first time, she looked frightened.
"You were never supposed to awaken," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"Why?"
She ignored me.
Instead, she raised both hands toward the gate.
"Close!"
Nothing happened.
The gate continued opening.
Her eyes widened.
"No…"
Darius stared at her.
"You can't control it."
"Silence!"
She tried again.
The water around her began swirling violently.
Still, the gate opened.
Shawshank grabbed my hand.
"Bjei, we have to leave."
I looked at the creature.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"It knows me."
"That's exactly why you need to go."
Darius stepped toward us.
"Shawshank is right."
I looked at him.
"You're my father. You know what that thing is."
He hesitated.
"Yes."
"What?"
His eyes filled with sadness.
"Your other father."
I stared at him.
"My other what?"
The creature behind the gate laughed.
The sound was deep enough to make my bones vibrate.
Darius continued.
"Your grandmother never told you the whole story."
"Then tell me!"
"She fell in love with someone from the sea."
"You?"
"No."
I felt my stomach drop.
"Then who?"
Darius looked toward the gate.
"Him."
I stared at the glowing eyes.
"You mean…"
"Yes."
"He is my father?"
Darius nodded.
"But I am your father too."
I couldn't understand.
"How can I have two fathers?"
Darius swallowed.
"Because you were born from two worlds."
The queen suddenly shouted.
"Enough!"
She turned toward me.
"Bjei, come with me."
I shook my head.
"No."
"You don't understand what is happening."
"Then explain it!"
Her expression hardened.
"You are the only person who can close that gate."
I looked behind me.
The creature's eyes remained fixed on me.
"How?"
"Your blood."
I felt sick.
"My blood?"
The queen nodded.
"Your grandmother used her own life force to seal the gate. But the seal was never permanent."
"And now?"
"Now you're here."
The creature slammed against the gate.
BOOM!
The entire chamber shook.
I screamed.
Shawshank pulled me into his arms.
"I'm here."
I held onto him.
For a moment, nothing else mattered.
His arms felt safe.
His heartbeat was steady against mine.
"Don't let go," I whispered.
"I won't."
The queen watched us.
Then she smiled.
A cold, knowing smile.
"You've already made your choice."
I looked at her.
"What choice?"
"You chose him."
She pointed toward Shawshank.
"And that will be your weakness."
Shawshank stepped forward.
"Don't speak about her like that."
The queen laughed.
"You think your love can protect her?"
Shawshank didn't answer.
The gate shook again.
A crack appeared across the stone.
Darius looked at me.
"Bjei, you need to listen carefully."
"What?"
"If that gate opens completely, the creature won't just destroy the kingdom."
"What will it do?"
"It will rise to the surface."
My blood ran cold.
"My home?"
"Yes."
"My mother?"
"Yes."
"Christel?"
Darius nodded.
"They will all be in danger."
I looked at the gate.
Then at Shawshank.
Then at the queen.
I suddenly understood.
This wasn't only about me.
The entire world could be affected.
"What do I have to do?"
The queen smiled.
"Come to me."
Shawshank grabbed my hand.
"No."
I looked at him.
"If I don't do something, everyone on the surface could die."
"We'll find another way."
"There may not be one."
"There is always another way."
Darius shook his head.
"Not this time."
I looked at him.
"What would Grandma have done?"
His eyes filled with tears.
"She would have sacrificed herself again."
I shook my head.
"No."
The golden mark on my ankle suddenly became brighter.
The creature behind the gate whispered:
"Come to me."
I felt something pulling me toward it.
My feet moved before I could stop them.
"Bjei!"
Shawshank grabbed me.
But the pull became stronger.
The queen raised her hands.
The guards stepped forward.
Darius shouted,
"RUN!"
Suddenly, the chamber exploded into chaos.
Shawshank pulled me toward the exit.
Darius attacked the guards.
The queen screamed.
And behind us, the ancient gate finally cracked open.
One enormous hand reached through.
It was covered in golden scales.
My heart stopped.
The creature pushed its hand through the opening.
Then it whispered my name.
"Come home, little one."
And for the first time…
I felt an overwhelming urge to obey.