If you had asked me 2 years ago if I believed in otherworldly people and dragons and things it would have been a big fat NO, but now I know different. Although I was raised on earth, I am in fact, the secret, forbidden love child of my parents.
I was born in a time when it was forbidden for the two races to marry and have children together. All mixed-race children were taken from their parents and killed. To keep me safe, my parents sent me to earth to be raised as a human child. They arranged for Eddy to be my guardian, at first from a distance and then later he became my best friend!
Eddy appeared in front of me in the park where I was waiting. “They should be here soon, how are you feeling?”
I hugged him for longer than usual before releasing him “I’m so nervous Eddy, what if I don’t live up to their expectations? What if they don’t like me? I’ve never met someone from another world before, I’m not sure what to expect or how to act!”
“Uh-hum” Eddy cleared his throat and gave me ‘the look’ he gives when I say something silly
“What am I then?” He continued. I stared at him blankly for a few seconds, as I was not sure what he meant, then it dawned on me.
“Ohhhhhh, well that’s different, you’ve been on earth a long time, you’re as much humanised as I am” I gave him a gentle shove “Hey you never did tell me how it is you have been my guardian all these years but have stayed the same age!?”
“That my dear Kayda is simple. Ainalif children are much the same as human children for the first 16 years, growing and aging the same, but once our kind reaches maturity our growth and aging slow drastically allowing us to live a lot longer than humans can. When I was sent here, I was 16 years old so could only watch you from a distance, but once you reached 16 I was able to interact with you and become your friend!”
I cocked my head to the side as I studied Eddy’s face “So you mean to tell me that I’m not going to look much older? Nice!” I couldn’t help but grin like a Cheshire cat.
“Kayda?” A sweet-sounding female voice interrupted “Is that really you?” It was my mum!
I swung around. Standing about 10 metres away from me were 2 strangers. A young-looking lady with long black hair that appeared to have a purplish hew. She was very pale but so beautiful.
Next to her stood a tall, handsome man, he had the same pearly blonde hair like me and the most striking blue eyes. He had a regal quality about him.
“I can’t believe it’s really you, it’s been so long!” The man spoke with a hint of sadness in his voice.
Eddy interrupted “Your majesties Prince Alrahel and Lady Danae, this is your daughter Kayda,” he gestured towards me before continuing “Kayda, these are your parents. Your father, Prince Alrahel…” He gestured toward the man, my father “…and your mother, Lady Danae”
Before I had a chance to do or say anything tears spilled from my eyes. I have wanted this moment since the time I discovered I was adopted. I was frozen on the spot, staring at these two strangers, unsure whether to approach them or keep my distance.
“Dad…Mum…” I choked on my words as the emotion took control of my body.
My mother was the first to make a move. She walked slowly yet deliberately towards me and stopped within arm’s reach “May I?” She asked with arms open.
I took a step forward, and she embraced me. At first, I stood ridged but as the emotion poured from me, I returned her embrace and sobbed like a little child.
I looked up over my mother’s shoulder and saw my father, still standing at a distant, tears rolling down his cheek. I reached out a hand toward him, and he closed the gap in a split second. My mother released me, and I embraced my father.
When I finally felt more in control and had cried myself dry, I realised I had so many questions. I stood back from them, looking from one to the other.
Before I could get my first question out, my father spoke “I guess you have a lot of questions, but before you say anything, I just want you to know something…We never wanted to hurt you! We love you! What we did, sending you to earth, was for your protection! If we could have kept you in Cennet and protected you and raised you, we absolutely would have…” He looked at the ground, “but it was just not possible.”
I stood staring at him, processing his words. “Yes…I know, Eddy told me!” I looked towards my mother, “He told me everything, and I am truly thankful that you sent me away, if you hadn’t, we wouldn’t be here right now!”
We embraced once more. We decided that what we had to talk about was probably best to be discussed away from earthling ears, so we headed back to my apartment. There is so much more to this story but let’s just say I got all my answers and so much more!
P.S. The rules on Cennett have now changed and mixed marriages and children are now legal. My mum and dad were finally able to marry.