Shawshank's hand remained wrapped around mine as we moved through the underwater passage.
I didn't know where he was taking me.
I didn't know whether I could trust him.
But strangely, I wasn't afraid of him anymore.
I was afraid of everything else.
The mysterious man.
The queen.
My grandmother's secrets.
And most of all, the truth about my mother.
The deeper we went, the quieter the kingdom became.
The glowing lights slowly disappeared behind us until only the soft blue light from Shawshank's body illuminated our path.
I stared at him.
"Do you always glow like that?"
He glanced at me.
"Like what?"
"Like you're carrying a lamp."
He laughed.
"No."
"Then why are you glowing now?"
He looked down at himself.
"I don't know."
I smiled.
"That's convenient."
He shook his head.
"You joke too much."
"It's how I deal with fear."
His smile faded.
"I know."
We continued swimming.
After a few minutes, we reached a massive coral archway.
Beyond it stood a beautiful house.
It wasn't like the palace.
It was smaller.
Private.
Its walls were covered with glowing vines, and hundreds of tiny pearls hung from the roof like lights.
I stared.
"This is your home?"
"Yes."
"It's beautiful."
"Thank you."
We entered.
The inside was surprisingly warm.
There was a large bed covered with white fabric, shelves filled with strange books, and a huge window overlooking the underwater gardens.
I walked toward it.
"Do you live here alone?"
"Yes."
"Doesn't that get lonely?"
"Sometimes."
I turned toward him.
"Where is your family?"
He became quiet.
"Gone."
I didn't ask again.
Instead, I walked toward a small table.
Something caught my eye.
A photograph.
I picked it up.
My heart stopped.
It was Shawshank standing beside an older man.
The man looked familiar.
Very familiar.
I looked at Shawshank.
"Who is this?"
He took the photograph from my hand.
"My father."
I stared at his face.
There was something about him.
Something I couldn't explain.
"Shawshank…"
"Yes?"
"Your father…"
He looked at me.
"What?"
"Does he look familiar to you?"
His eyebrows drew together.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know."
I looked at the photograph again.
"I feel like I've seen him before."
Shawshank's expression changed.
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Suddenly, a sharp pain ran through my head.
I grabbed my forehead.
"Bjei?"
I closed my eyes.
A memory flashed.
My grandmother.
Angela.
A baby crying.
And that same man from Shawshank's photograph.
Standing beside my grandmother.
Then the vision disappeared.
I opened my eyes.
Shawshank was holding my shoulders.
"What did you see?"
"I don't know."
"Tell me."
"I saw my grandmother."
"What else?"
"Your father."
He went completely still.
"My father?"
I nodded.
"They were together."
Shawshank stared at me.
"That can't be possible."
"Why?"
"My father disappeared before I was born."
I swallowed.
"Maybe he didn't disappear."
Shawshank's eyes darkened.
"What are you saying?"
"I think our families knew each other."
Before he could answer, something fell from the ceiling.
A small wooden box landed at my feet.
I jumped.
Shawshank stared at it.
"What is that?"
I bent down.
There was a golden symbol carved into the lid.
The same symbol that had appeared on my ankle.
"It's for me."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
I opened the box.
Inside was a necklace.
A beautiful blue stone hung from it.
Beneath the necklace was a folded piece of paper.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
There were only three words written on it.
BJEI, FORGIVE ME.
I recognized the handwriting.
My grandmother's.
Tears filled my eyes.
"She's still trying to tell me something."
Shawshank stood beside me.
"What does it say?"
I handed him the paper.
He read it.
Then looked at me.
"There's something else."
"What?"
He pointed to the back.
Slowly, another line appeared.
The ink seemed to be forming by itself.
DO NOT LET SHAW—
The message stopped.
I stared.
"Don't let Shaw… what?"
Shawshank looked at the paper.
His face became pale.
Then the house shook.
The necklace in my hand began glowing.
A deep voice echoed outside.
"Shawshank."
He immediately stepped in front of me.
"Stay here."
"Who is it?"
He didn't answer.
The voice came again.
"Bring me the girl."
Shawshank's hands curled into fists.
"No."
A shadow appeared outside the window.
I stepped backward.
"Is that the queen?"
Shawshank shook his head.
"No."
"Then who?"
He looked at me.
His eyes were filled with fear.
"The man you saw in the tunnel."
My heart stopped.
"The man who called me daughter?"
"Yes."
The shadow moved closer.
Then his voice came through the glass.
"Bjei, your mother has been lying to you."
I looked at Shawshank.
The man continued.
"And if you want to know why… come outside."
The blue stone in my hand suddenly became warm.
And somewhere in the distance, Angela screamed my name.