"The man who gave you your life."
Darius's words echoed in my head.
I stared at him.
"You mean… he is my real father?"
Darius nodded slowly.
"Then who are you?"
His eyes met mine.
"I am the man who raised you from afar."
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It will."
I was tired of those words.
Everyone kept telling me the truth would make sense later.
But later never came.
I wanted answers now.
"Darius, you told me you were my father."
"I am."
"Then how can another man be my father?"
Darius looked toward the dark sea.
"Because your birth was not ordinary."
Shawshank moved closer.
"Let him explain."
I looked at him.
"You knew about this?"
"Not everything."
I shook my head.
"Everyone knows something except me."
Darius reached into his coat and pulled out a small silver pendant.
The same symbol engraved on it appeared on my necklace.
"This belonged to your mother."
I stared at it.
"Why are you showing me this?"
"Because Angela gave it to me the night she took you away."
"From whom?"
Darius hesitated.
"From your real father."
My heart raced.
"Who is he?"
Darius looked at the water.
"His name is Azrael."
The name sent a strange shiver through me.
"Where is he?"
"He lives beneath the deepest part of the sea."
"The creature?"
Darius nodded.
I stepped backward.
"No."
"Bjei…"
"No. You're telling me that thing is my father?"
"Yes."
I covered my mouth.
Suddenly, the memories began connecting.
The voice calling me daughter.
The golden eyes.
The strange pull I felt toward the deep.
The visions.
The mark on my ankle.
Everything.
Shawshank gently touched my shoulder.
"Bjei."
I looked at him.
"What if I'm dangerous?"
"You're not."
"You don't know that."
"I know you."
His voice was soft.
"You're not what they say you are."
My eyes filled with tears.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I've seen you when nobody else was watching."
I stared at him.
He smiled.
"And I know the person I care about."
My heart skipped.
"You care about me?"
He didn't look away this time.
"Yes."
The word was simple.
But it meant everything.
I felt my cheeks become warm.
Before I could answer, Darius cleared his throat.
"We have to move."
Shawshank reluctantly stepped away.
I looked at Darius.
"Where?"
"To find Angela."
My heart tightened.
"You know where she is?"
"Yes."
"Then take me to her."
Darius nodded.
"But there's something you must understand."
"What?"
"Your mother went beneath the sea voluntarily."
"Why?"
"To meet Azrael."
"Why would she meet him?"
"To ask him to stop searching for you."
My chest tightened.
"Will he?"
Darius looked at me.
"Not anymore."
"Why?"
"Because he knows you're awake."
A cold feeling moved through me.
"What's going to happen?"
Darius looked toward the horizon.
"He will come for you."
Shawshank immediately stepped forward.
"He won't get her."
Darius looked at him.
"You cannot fight Azrael."
"I don't need to defeat him."
"Then what will you do?"
Shawshank looked at me.
"Keep her safe."
My heart fluttered again.
Suddenly, the sea behind us became strangely calm.
Too calm.
Darius froze.
"What?"
"Something is wrong."
The water began glowing gold.
A path slowly formed across the ocean.
I stared at it.
"Is that Azrael?"
Darius shook his head.
"No."
"Then who?"
A figure appeared at the end of the glowing path.
A woman.
Long silver hair.
A familiar face.
My breath caught.
"Mom?"
Angela stood in the middle of the sea.
She looked exhausted.
Her clothes were soaked.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
"Bjei…"
I ran toward her.
"Mom!"
Shawshank tried to stop me.
"Wait!"
But I was already in the water.
Angela opened her arms.
I rushed into them.
For the first time since coming beneath the sea, I felt like a child again.
I cried against her shoulder.
"Why did you lie to me?"
She held me tightly.
"I was trying to protect you."
"From my father?"
She pulled away.
Her eyes widened.
"Who told you?"
I looked at Darius.
"Everything."
Angela's face fell.
Then she looked at Shawshank.
Her expression suddenly changed.
Fear.
"Bjei…"
"What?"
"Stay away from him."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Angela stared at Shawshank as if she had seen a ghost.
"He isn't who you think he is."
Shawshank went completely still.
"What are you talking about?"
Angela's voice trembled.
"Your father…"
She looked at Darius.
Then back at Shawshank.
"He is connected to your bloodline."
My heart stopped.
"What does that mean?"
Angela grabbed my hand.
"Bjei, you must listen to me."
"Mom?"
She looked terrified.
"Shawshank is not just a mermaid."
Silence.
Then she whispered:
"He is Azrael's son."