Chapter 18

**Acacia Point of View**

"Whoever you think you are -" I started, slamming the wooden plate on the tray.

"You really think I'm foolish. Don't you?" I scoffed.

Putting the tray away on the table in front of me, I sat on the throne when I started to feel ache in my legs. Massaging my thighs a little, I hissed when I started to feel the strain on my feet.

"You could be making me take a pledge or promise that I shouldn't take. After all, I don't know what the writing on the wooden plate means." I looked at the writing and decided not to say that out whatsoever.

"One day this could be used against me and I shall be stuck in yet another mess which I will not let happen." I said out knowing too well that my words, somehow, can reach the supposed ears.

These days, I realized something important. After I gave up on finding this mysterious man for time being and am less scared of everything that is happening than I was in the past months, I kind of got brave enough to voice my thoughts out.

It is now that I understood giving up hope will give you a new source of courage. While others may call it being foolish, I say I'm getting braver.

After all, I don't have anything to lose; except the baby! But since this baby is as much important to the mysterious person too, he hardly have any leverage against me.

"I'm not reading this. You can go to hell and rot there for eternity." You don't want to rile up a pregnant woman.

I'm already moody and so out of character and you come with some nonsense mantra that makes no sense to me and shove it on my face to read it?

After all the things you did to me?

After keeping me locked in that haunted place all this while?

After making me pregnant, in God knows what manner?

Hell is a lenient place for you!

A few minutes later when the ache in my feet lessened, I decided to go back to my bedroom and rest a little. I'm tired and my muscles hurt from exhaustion, not to forget the painful kicks of the baby.

I stood up and stepped down from the platform to go back, I heard sound of flapping sound of bird. I was surprised that heard a sound of a presence of a bird because from the moment I stepped on this island, I have not seen any living thing other than myself and vegetation.

Birds and animals are like completely forbidden here. I did not see any kind of animal or bird till now.

Getting down the platform, I only took a couple of steps when the culprit that produced the flapping sound flew inside gallantly.

It was a hawk and a huge one at that. This bird has taken the healthy look to a whole new level. Not only was it huge, it looks sharp and muscular.

The bird flew through the great hall cutting the air with its sharp wings. Coming directly towards me, my heart started to pace faster and I wrapped my hands around my belly as if it would crash into me.

The hawk flew around the room in great speed and flew to me as I closed my eyes and screamed out in fright when I thought it would crash into me.

When I was not met with any hit, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around to see the hawk sitting on the armrest of the throne.

I blinked my eyes and squinted to study the bird. Its beak was bent down and very sharp. Claws like sharp razors that can cut through anything that comes its way. Feathers are long and large in rich brown and with dark relatively big eyes, this bird meant business.

Believe me when I say it looked muscular as if it works out every day.

On a closer look, I saw something that doesn't make sense. On the chest of the bird is the emblem imprinted on its skin. The same emblem that I saw everywhere in the castle.

"Now what do we have here?" I took a small hesitant step towards the bird. It did not move so I bravely took another step towards it.

I used to watch discovery channel a lot and this hawk looks much dangerous and bigger than those Mongolian ones. However, what I'm not sure about is that there is the same emblem on it.

Does it mean this bird is reared by the owner of the castle?

The emblem does not look like it was imprinted by external means. It rather looks more like a birth mark that is a part of skin and one with the body.

Okay... Now what is this bodybuilder like hawk doing here?

"You must be on the same troop that kidnapped me and keeping me here." I mumbled a bit loudly as if it can understand me.

The bird did not make a move to attack me when I closed in so I suppose this isn't here to hurt me. Only a supposition, though because I have no trust on anything here, living or dead.

After scrutinizing it for a while, I turned around swiftly and walked back to the main part of the castle towards my bedroom. No matter how interesting that bird was, it cannot help me relax my exhaustion. Sleep can.

When I was out strolling through the long lane of the garden towards the main building, I felt something.

I felt being watched!

I felt being followed!

I felt that I wasn't alone there.

And when I turned around to see who it was, I gasped at what it was. The hawk!

The bird was flying, behind me, slowly at my pace as if keeping an eye on me. I stopped and raised a brow at the bird as it continued to fly freely.

If this bird doesn't have the emblem on it and was a one which is not related to this island, I would've squealed in joy on seeing another living creature in months.

The emblem is the sign not to trust it and it doesn't belong to nature.

I continued to walk and a dozen steps later I found that the bird is still following me and stopped when I stopped.

"You can't be serious!" I grumbled as I walked a few more steps, this time cautiously as I observed the movements of the damned bird.

As expected it followed and watched me like a hawk.

"Stop following me and fly away." I shooed it away with my hand; tried to but it continued to be stubborn and followed me inside the castle.

"Alright, what do you want? Whoever raised you, you are as annoying as your master." I shooed him again.

Not only did it go away, that damn bird did not even feel threatened by me. The hawk flew away and sat on the railing of the stairs, as if waiting for me.

I shook my head and scowled at it as I climbed the stairs and noticed it following me. I stopped when I reached third story and turned back. The hawk flew to the handrail and sat on it as I stopped.

"This looks so tamed. Is this bird robotic?" It can't be. A mechanical one cannot look real to this extent.

"What is your problem? Why are you following me?" I asked nonetheless knowing too well I will not get any reply.

Heck, I would go insane if I get one.

Huffing at it with a deep scowl, I turned back and resumed back to climb the stairs and get back to my room. I took my time as I cautiously climbed step and being suddenly followed by another living thing is a little bothersome.

Don't tell me this is why this bird is here. To follow me everywhere!

I was watched like a hawk by the hawk!

After several months of being all alone and lonely, locked up and frightened, one day this huge bird is send to me to follow me?

Was this mysterious person's doing?

Of course it should be. But why?

By the time I reached the destined floor, the bird was still following me. "Alright, seriously, what is it do you want? What should I do so you go away?"

The damn hawk continued to sit leisurely on the furniture and blinked at me. It blinked as if it can understand me. For a moment there, I thought I saw a knowing flicker pass through those dark beaded eyes.

Hugging myself, I glared at the bird hoping I could scare it away but this creature is not only not scared but also flexed its body wide as If sitting proudly with honor.

Why is it so keen on following me?

A sudden thought clicked in my mind and I raised a brow at the proud bird.

"Are you perhaps a pet? Supposed to be my pet?"

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

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