"And now that she has opened the gate, I can finally take what belongs to me."
The queen's voice echoed through the underwater kingdom.
I turned around slowly.
She was standing behind us.
Her silver hair floated around her face, and her pale eyes were fixed on me.
Marina immediately stepped in front of me.
"You will not touch her."
The queen smiled.
"You still think you can protect her?"
"I protected her once. I will do it again."
Azrael moved closer.
"This ends now."
The queen glanced at him.
"You have no authority here anymore."
Azrael's eyes darkened.
"I am still the ruler of the deep."
"Not for long."
Shawshank tightened his grip around my hand.
I could feel his heartbeat.
Fast.
Fearful.
But he refused to let go.
The queen noticed.
She smiled.
"How touching."
She looked at me.
"So this is what you've chosen?"
I frowned.
"Chosen what?"
"Your little love story."
Shawshank stepped forward.
"Leave her alone."
The queen laughed.
"You still don't understand. Your feelings for her are exactly what will destroy her."
My heart tightened.
"What are you talking about?"
The queen raised her hand.
Suddenly, the golden mark on my wrist burned.
I screamed.
"Bjei!"
Shawshank held me.
The water around us began spinning.
Marina shouted,
"Don't fight the power!"
"What?"
"Let it pass through you!"
I closed my eyes.
The pain became stronger.
I could hear whispers.
Thousands of voices.
Some were crying.
Some were laughing.
Some were calling my name.
Then I heard one voice above all the others.
"Choose me."
I opened my eyes.
The queen was standing directly in front of me.
"Choose the sea," she whispered.
"I won't."
"Choose the sea, and you will have everything."
"I don't want everything."
"You could have power."
"No."
"Your own kingdom."
"No."
"Your mother."
I froze.
The queen smiled.
"Marina could be free."
I looked at my mother.
Marina shook her head.
"Don't listen to her."
The queen continued.
"You could have your mother beside you forever."
My heart broke.
"Leave Marina out of this."
"Then choose."
Shawshank stepped closer.
"Bjei, don't."
I looked at him.
He was frightened.
Not for himself.
For me.
"I love you," he whispered.
My heart stopped.
It was the first time he had said it.
"I love you too."
The queen's smile disappeared.
"Then watch what happens."
She raised her hand.
A dark force shot toward Shawshank.
"NO!"
I threw my hand forward.
The sea exploded.
A powerful wave formed between us and the queen.
Her attack hit the wave and disappeared.
Everyone froze.
I stared at my hands.
I had stopped her.
The queen looked shocked.
"You…"
Marina smiled through her tears.
"She finally understands."
The queen's eyes narrowed.
"What did you do?"
I stepped forward.
"I protected someone I love."
The golden mark on my wrist became brighter.
The ancient gate began glowing.
Azrael stared at me.
"Bjei, stop."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know what you're awakening."
The ground beneath us shook.
A deep roar came from behind the gate.
Marina's smile disappeared.
"She's right."
I turned.
"What?"
Marina looked terrified.
"The gate isn't just a door."
"Then what is it?"
"It is a prison."
The queen laughed.
"And you just opened it."
A huge crack appeared across the ancient gate.
Something slammed against it from the other side.
BOOM!
Everyone stepped backward.
Another impact.
BOOM!
Shawshank pulled me close.
"What is behind it?"
Marina whispered,
"The first creature ever created beneath the sea."
I stared at the gate.
"What does it want?"
Marina looked at me.
"You."
The gate cracked again.
This time, a long black hand pushed through.
The queen smiled.
"Welcome home, Bjei."
I stared at the hand.
And suddenly, the golden mark on my wrist began moving.
It formed a new symbol.
A crown.
I looked at Marina.
"What does that mean?"
She whispered:
"It means the sea has chosen its queen."