"Come aboard."
My grandmother's voice came from inside the dark ship.
I couldn't move.
For eighteen years, I had believed she was dead.
Yet there she was.
Calling my name.
"Grandma?"
Angela grabbed my arm.
"Bjei, don't."
I turned toward her.
"You heard her."
"Yes."
"Then she's alive."
Angela shook her head slowly.
"Not exactly."
A cold shiver passed through me.
"What does that mean?"
Darius stepped forward.
"The ship of the dead doesn't carry the living."
I looked back at the ship.
"Then how can Grandma be there?"
Darius didn't answer.
Shawshank took my hand.
"You don't have to go."
"But I need answers."
"I know."
He looked toward the ship.
"Then I'll go with you."
Darius immediately shook his head.
"No."
Shawshank frowned.
"Why?"
"Because the ship only accepts one living passenger."
I stared at him.
"Then I'll go alone."
"No," Shawshank said.
His grip tightened around my hand.
"Absolutely not."
A soft laugh came from inside the ship.
My grandmother's voice followed.
"Let him come."
Everyone froze.
Darius looked shocked.
"That isn't possible."
The voice laughed again.
"Much of what you believe is impossible."
The ship's door opened wider.
A pale blue light spilled onto the sand.
I took one step forward.
Angela grabbed me.
"Bjei, please."
I turned to her.
"Mom, if that's really Grandma, I have to see her."
Angela's eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
She released my hand.
"But come back."
"I will."
Shawshank stepped beside me.
"I'm coming."
Darius sighed.
"Then stay close to her."
We walked toward the ship.
The moment my foot touched the wooden deck, everything around me went silent.
No waves.
No wind.
No voices.
Even Shawshank seemed to disappear.
"Shawshank?"
No answer.
I turned.
He was standing behind me.
But something was wrong.
His eyes were closed.
"Shawshank!"
He opened them.
"I'm here."
I breathed out in relief.
Then the ship moved.
Without wind.
Without anyone steering it.
It began sailing toward the horizon.
"Where are we going?"
Shawshank looked around.
"I don't know."
A lantern suddenly lit.
Then another.
Then another.
One by one, dozens of lanterns illuminated the deck.
At the end of the ship stood a woman.
Long gray hair.
A familiar dress.
My heart stopped.
"Grandma…"
She smiled.
I ran toward her.
She opened her arms.
I fell into them.
For the first time in years, I felt that familiar warmth.
I cried.
"You're alive."
She stroked my hair.
"Not in the way you remember."
I pulled away.
"What happened to you?"
She looked at Shawshank.
Then back at me.
"I stayed behind so you could live."
I wiped my tears.
"Why didn't you come back?"
"Because I couldn't."
"Where were you?"
"Between the sea and the world above."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
She looked toward the horizon.
"I became a prisoner of the gate."
My heart tightened.
"Why?"
"To keep the queen asleep."
I stared at her.
"You sacrificed yourself."
"Yes."
"Then how are you here?"
"Because the gate is opening again."
Silence.
"So you're going to die?"
She smiled sadly.
"I already did."
I shook my head.
"No."
She touched my cheek.
"Bjei, listen carefully."
I nodded.
"The story you have been told about your birth is incomplete."
I looked at Shawshank.
He stepped closer.
"What don't we know?"
Grandma looked at him.
"You were not born with ordinary blood."
"I know."
"No."
She shook her head.
"You don't."
Her eyes returned to me.
"You were created from two bloodlines."
My heart raced.
"Azrael's blood…"
"And?"
She looked at Shawshank.
"His."
I stared at him.
"What?"
Shawshank looked confused.
"Mine?"
Grandma nodded.
"The night Bjei was born, Azrael wasn't the only one whose blood was used."
Shawshank stepped backward.
"That can't be true."
Grandma's expression softened.
"You were only a child, but your blood was taken."
I stared at her.
"Why?"
"To save Bjei's life."
Shawshank looked at me.
"So that's why I feel connected to her."
Grandma nodded.
"Your blood gave her the ability to survive between worlds."
I couldn't speak.
All this time, I had thought my connection to Shawshank was simply something emotional.
Something romantic.
Something I couldn't explain.
But there was more.
Much more.
Grandma reached into her dress and pulled out a small golden key.
She placed it in my palm.
"This is the key to the ancient gate."
I stared at it.
"What am I supposed to do with it?"
"Open the gate."
Shawshank immediately shook his head.
"No."
Grandma looked at him.
"She must."
"Why?"
"Because the queen is already awake."
I looked at the key.
"What's behind the gate?"
Grandma's eyes filled with fear.
"Your true kingdom."
I swallowed.
"And if I open it?"
She leaned closer.
"You will finally meet the person who has been waiting for you since the night you were born."
"Who?"
Grandma looked toward the dark ocean.
Then she whispered:
"Your real mother."