"I've waited eighteen years to hold you."
I couldn't move.
The woman stood behind the ancient gate, surrounded by a soft silver glow.
She looked exactly like me.
The same eyes.
The same lips.
The same little mark beneath my left eye.
I whispered, "Marina?"
She smiled.
"Yes, my child."
Tears filled my eyes.
For eighteen years, I had believed I had only one mother.
Angela.
Now another woman was standing before me, claiming to be the woman who had given me life.
I took a hesitant step forward.
Shawshank caught my wrist.
"Bjei, wait."
I looked at him.
"She's my mother."
"I know."
"Then why are you stopping me?"
His eyes remained fixed on Marina.
"Because something doesn't feel right."
Marina's smile faded.
"Shawshank."
He froze.
"You know me?"
"I knew you before you could walk."
Shawshank's face tightened.
"How?"
Marina looked at me.
"Because your blood helped save Bjei."
He looked at his hands.
"Grandmother told us."
Marina shook her head.
"She didn't tell you everything."
I stepped between them.
"What else is there?"
Marina reached toward me.
"Come closer."
I wanted to.
Every part of me wanted to.
But Shawshank pulled me back.
"Don't."
Marina looked at him.
"You still don't trust me?"
"I don't trust anyone who has been waiting behind that gate for eighteen years."
She smiled sadly.
"Good."
I frowned.
"Good?"
"You've learned to question everything."
She looked at me.
"That will keep you alive."
The gate opened wider.
A beautiful underwater garden appeared behind her.
Glowing flowers floated through the water.
Silver fish swam around us.
It was breathtaking.
"This is where I lived," Marina said.
I stared.
"It's beautiful."
"It was."
"Was?"
Her expression darkened.
"Before the queen took everything."
I looked around.
"What happened?"
"She wanted my power."
"What power?"
Marina looked at my wrist.
"The same power now inside you."
The golden mark began glowing.
I felt warmth spread through my body.
"What exactly can I do?"
"You can command the gate."
"And the sea?"
"Yes."
"Can I control people?"
"No."
She smiled.
"But you can control what surrounds them."
I looked at Shawshank.
"Could I hurt someone?"
"Yes."
The answer frightened me.
"But you don't have to."
I stared at her.
"How do I control it?"
"By controlling yourself."
I laughed nervously.
"That's not exactly my strongest skill."
Shawshank smiled.
"I've noticed."
I turned toward him.
"You're enjoying this?"
"A little."
For the first time, Marina laughed.
The sound was warm.
Familiar.
I suddenly understood where my laugh came from.
I moved closer to her.
"Can I hug you?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Please."
I stepped through the gate.
Marina wrapped her arms around me.
The moment she touched me, memories flooded my mind.
I saw myself as a baby.
Marina holding me.
Singing to me.
Kissing my forehead.
Angela standing nearby.
Grandma crying.
Darius watching the door.
And Azrael standing outside.
Then the memory changed.
Marina was screaming.
The queen was attacking her.
Azrael was fighting to protect her.
Grandma grabbed baby me.
Marina shouted,
"Take her!"
Grandma cried,
"She'll die without you!"
Marina shook her head.
"She'll die if I keep her."
The vision disappeared.
I pulled away.
"You gave me away."
Marina's face crumpled.
"To save you."
"You could have come back."
"I tried."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because the queen trapped me here."
I wiped my tears.
"Then why can I see you now?"
"Because you opened the gate."
I looked behind me.
The gate was now completely open.
A deep rumbling sound came from the darkness.
Marina's expression changed.
"Close it."
"What?"
"Close the gate!"
I turned.
Something enormous moved behind us.
Shawshank grabbed my hand.
"What is that?"
Marina looked terrified.
"The thing your grandmother warned you about."
The darkness split open.
Two enormous golden eyes appeared.
I froze.
Azrael's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Marina."
She stepped in front of me.
"Azrael, no."
He emerged from the darkness.
His eyes were fixed on me.
"Bjei."
Marina stood between us.
"You will not take her."
Azrael smiled.
"She opened the gate herself."
Marina shook her head.
"She doesn't belong to you."
"She carries my blood."
"She carries my love."
Azrael's expression hardened.
"Then you will both come with me."
Shawshank stepped forward.
"No."
Azrael looked at his son.
"You again."
Shawshank raised his chin.
"You're not taking her."
Azrael laughed.
"You still think you can protect her."
Shawshank looked at me.
"I don't think."
He took my hand.
"I know."
Suddenly, the golden mark on my wrist blazed.
The entire kingdom shook.
Marina looked at me.
"Bjei…"
"What?"
Her eyes widened.
"Your power is much stronger than I expected."
I stared at my glowing hand.
Then I heard another voice behind us.
The queen.
"And now that she has opened the gate, I can finally take what belongs to me."