Ch 12 - You're Not From Here

SHAY'S POV

For the millionth time that day, I was confused by what was now in my hands. What baby was this? What betrayal was this? Where does all this take place? Is this what’s going on behind the barrier? Where do I start searching for this baby?

So many questions.

No answers.

A knock at my door snapped me out of thought.

“Are you ok baby girl? You’ve been awfully quiet up here,” my dad’s head poked in.

“I’m confused about stuff. I’ve just been going through this information,” I sighed. He came in and sat on my bed.

“What’s confusing you?” he asked.

“Dad, did you and mom adopt Kay and I?” I asked bluntly.

He paled at my question. “How did you find out?”

“So it’s true?” I asked wide-eyed. He sighed and patted the spot beside him. I immediately went over to his side.

“Emily and I were high school sweethearts as you know. We were the couple everyone gushed about, but we didn’t know that our perfect image would be tainted by her inability to have children. Eighteen years ago, we met a lady who was a complete mess. She was crying while she held two new born babies and she kept chanting about how she needed to keep them safe. When I walked up to her, she looked straight at me and told me that I would be the perfect father to you both. She handed you both over to Emily and I. She explained that she didn’t have much time and needed to go back home. All she said was that she would hope that you’d find your way to her and her husband, who I assume is your father. We raised you and Kay since,” he explained. I couldn’t help but hug him.

“You’re still my dad, I hope you know that,” I pointed out.

“But I could never compete with your real father, wherever he is and if you find him,” he sighed.

“No, he could never compete with you. If I do meet him, and his excuse for ditching me is valid, then I will have two fathers. The person who doesn’t have competition is my biological mother,” I pointed out.

He looked to me with glossed eyes. “You really mean it?”

“One hundred percent! You’re the only parent of mine that’s been with me from the beginning. That’s not something the other three can’t say they’ve done,” I smiled.

“How did you find out about it anyway?” he asked curiously.

“You know how I said the fourth device does nothing?” I asked, to which he nodded.

“I may have lied. You guys clearly didn’t see what I did. It’s sort of a database machine. It pricked my thumb, which is why I dropped it. It must’ve then run some DNA test on me because it then pulled out my file. It doesn’t know my name or my origin, and according to it, I have no siblings. It was accurate about all my other general information, except it said that I’m a royal princess, and that my parents are King Aragon Salvatore, and Queen Valencia Salvatore. Their locations are unknown, and they’re both over a thousand years old. It showed me their images, and I look just like them. I have my dad’s eyes and facial structure, but I have my mum’s hair and body structure. It also said that they were the Grand Alpha male and female. My dad was born into royalty from what I gathered. Oh, it also said that my blood type was pure royal, whatever that means,” I explained what I’d seen from the machine.

I looked up to my dad, wondering why he was so silent. He was lost in thought, as though he was processing the information that I’d just told him. He didn’t look angry or confused. If anything, I think he looked like he’d finally pieced the pieces of a puzzle together.

“Baby girl, I think I know why the devices didn’t kill you,” he suddenly said.

“What?” I said, not following his trail of thought.

“You’re going to think that I’m insane, but it’s the only thing I can think of,” he said warily.

“Ok! Let’s hear it,” I said nervously.

“You’re not from here,” he said bluntly. My eyes widened.

“WHAT?” I shouted.

“Think about it Shay! You weren’t affected by those devices and the one revealed information about your true family. The information it revealed was not structured the way humans structure basic information. Your sister’s disappearance also comes into play, and how your eyes suddenly changed colour after the light going into your chest scenario. We can’t forget the fact that you have heightened senses. There’s also the mumbling you did about the minerals and where they could be found and all. Baby girl, I don’t love you any less, but I definitely think that you’re not an ordinary human,” he explained.

I couldn’t even say anything. I was frozen in place. Not human? What would that then mean? Why did my parents abandon me here? What am I if I’m not human? There were so many questions going through my mind that I could even feel the headache coming on. My dad was silent the entire time, just watching me think.

“Where do you think I come from?” I whispered.

“Honestly?” he asked. I nodded.

“Area Alpha 101,” he replied. That surprised me.

“Why?” I questioned.

“You are so fascinated by the place that it’s almost like the place is calling out to you. It’s like your home is calling out to you. The devices were also found close to there, and if you didn’t react to them, then you might just be from there,” he elaborated.

I bit my lip. “I didn’t even think about that.”

“You know that there’s a way of finding out right? But, that’s only if you’re willing to risk it. I don’t want to lose my baby girl obviously, but I’m not going to selfishly keep you to myself if you want to go and find out about your birthplace and birthparents. I obviously don’t know what’s on the other side, or if you’ll return, but if you want to go there, then I won’t stop you,” he said, his voice cracking a bit at the end.

“You would do that for me?” I whispered.

“I would do anything for you Shay,” he sighed, pulling me into a hug. It wasn’t until I felt a water drop on my forehead that I realized that this man, the toughest man I know, was crying.

“If I did decide to go, you do know that I would never forget about you right? You’re my everything daddy. It’s you and I forever. If I did make it to the other side, I would try my damn hardest to come back to you,” I said as my own tears left my eyes.

He gave me a weak smile. “Don’t worry about me until you’re happy.”

“You are my happiness daddy,” I kissed his cheek.

“I love you so much Shay,” he whispered.

I hugged him tighter. “I love you too daddy.”

We spent the next few hours bonding, settling for yet another movie night. Whatever happens, I would never forget this man. We may not have had the best relationship in the past two years, but that doesn’t tarnish the sixteen years before that. The fact that he made it his mission to be a better father to me after everything shows me that he has and will always love me as his little girl.

Who could ever forget such love?