Chapter 19

**Acacia Point of View**

I'm so done with this!

I glared at the hawk for the nth time in the past two days and seems like it doesn't care at all. The bird keeps following me everywhere except for my bedroom. Somehow, the bird does not enter my room, thankfully.

I've come up with several reasons for the bird that decided to follow me but none of them made sense.

First, I thought it was a normal overgrown bird that is just as happier to find another living creature on this island as me but when I found that emblem on its chest, it's a done deal.

Then I thought the bird is employed to keep a watch on me which it has been doing from the second it arrived but how can bird be an observer. Even if that is case, why would someone watch me right at the time when I cannot choose to escape whatsoever?

After several other ideas, the final one I concluded with was that the bird is here to be a pet. The bird has been annoying as he followed me everywhere but also listened to me when I asked him to keep his space from me and at time the bird did listen.

Only, how can a bird be too obedient and human like loyal to a person? I didn't raise it for it to be so familiar with me.

Thinking about all the incidents that happened in the past two days after the festival, I cannot decide if having this pet-ish hawk around is good or bad.

Shaking my head to myself, I sat on the only bench in the garden near the cherry blossoms. I'm grateful that the main door is not closed after the festival day. Even though climbing up and down several stairs is tiring, I would still not forgo the chance to take a walk in the garden and spend some peaceful time.

Looking at the hawk sitting on the branch just few feet away from me, I sighed and frowned at the damned bird.

"So you really are my pet?" I spoke after several minutes of being silent. The bird turned its head towards me and blinked its beaded eyes which I have no idea what it meant.

"Are you here to stalk me for your master?" I asked again to which the bird turned its head away.

Not to stalk, understood.

"Alright, you are a pet then. My pet?" I asked turning back my attention to the beautiful flowers knowing well that the damned bird is listening to me.

It listens, and listens too well. The bird always hears me out.

"You have one jerk of a master, you know. First he seized your freedom and raised you like a pet and then sent you to me. In my case, he somehow got me to this spooky island, lured me into the castle, imprisoned me inside and got me pregnant and what's absurd is I didn't even see a single living being until two days ago." I ranted as I took the chance to let it all out since I have a listening ear now.

But that doesn't mean I trust this bird. Absolutely not! Since I cannot get rid of it, I'm making better use of an enemy company.

"One day, if and when I meet your master, I plan on hurting him and kill him painfully." I said truthfully and shrugged when I saw the bird's eyes widened a little. I can't be mistaken. Even if it is a very minute change, I did notice the eyes widening.

Which means, the hawk somehow understands what I say.

"You have no right to get shocked. Put yourself in my shoes and you will understand my absolute despise for your master."

"Are you a female?" I asked after few moments of silence. When I looked at the bird, it flew slowly over my head circling around me for a few rounds.

"Alright, you are a male then." After it displayed its size, flying speed and style, I'm sure it wants to make me realize that he is a he.

Should I give him a name? I can't always call him 'the damned bird'.

Hmm, I as well just give him a name for convenience.

"It's tiring to call you 'the damned bird', 'that weird hawk', 'annoying creature'. Let me give you a name." I said as I turned my attention back to the male bird.

What should I name the damned bird?

"How does Azar sounds? In Spanish it means 'random'. Since your arrival was so random, I'll just call you Azar." The hawk did not turn its head or fly away which means he doesn't mind the name.

It doesn't matter even if he mind!

"Azar, now that I'm your master, would you help me beating your previous master to pulp when time comes? I could always use a muscular bird." I randomly asked.

It is no secret that I indeed have thoughts of hurting the mysterious person badly once I find him. I made my intentions clear and loud several times.

"Even if your previous master kiss the ground I walked on, I can never forgive him for what he did to me. I so hate him. " I shared without any fear.

I have a little advantage in the situation I'm in so I don't have to be afraid of most of things.

After vowing to avenge in deadly ways possible, I walked in sadly as the sun is almost setting. Soon I had dinner and went to bed but wasn't ready to sleep.

It's not that I wasn't feeling sleepy, I didn't want to sleep because I didn't want to dream. From the night of the festival, every night I had a same dream which had me wish I could never sleep.

Every night I see the same dream.

The first time, on the night of the festival, when I got the dream, I was so scared that what I felt in the dream seems so real.

I laid on the bed and thought about the contents of the dream while chanting to myself not to sleep. Soon, the familiar feeling embraced me and I was surrounded by thick fog.

Closing my eyes, I huffed out when I realized I was dreaming the same thing again which means I'm in sleep. As expected, I couldn't move my body, my feet are stuck where I was standing and I'm surrounded by thick smoke like fog.

The fog before me slowly cleared lightly, enough for me to see the shadow of a man standing before me with his back towards me.

"Are you into black magic? How can you make me dream exact same thing every night?" I grumbled angrily when that man did not even care to turn around and show his face.

"Welcome." The man spoke in his raspy low voice. This was the same voice that whisper called my name every now and then; the same voice I heard in another dream.

I don't know who this man is and how he is able to invade my dreams at his will.

"Is this some kind of hypnosis technique?" I know I will not get appropriate answer but still tried.

"You need to repeat it after me." He ignored my question and got to the point.

This has been the same from the past couple of nights. This man, whom I gathered must be the mysterious person, has been trying to make me repeat those words from wooden plate that I received on the festival day.

Well, if I would've followed his wish and repeated after those words after him, he wouldn't be here in yet another dream.

"No. I don't even know what it means and you want me to say those words? Never. You tell me first, are you the person who imprisoned me in this castle?" I asked him yet again expecting an answer at least now.

If only I could move my body, I would have not wasted the time and banged his head to something nearby. At least in dream I wish I could.

"This must be some hypnosis technique of yours." I continued.

"Krumsvlptarm firivag –" He ignored me again and continued to say the mantra.

"We can do this forever but I will never say those words." I am not giving in. Not to this jerk man.

"I told you, this is a mantra that a mother would chant asking the heavens to bless her with a healthy baby." He said the same shit again.

"I don't believe you. Turn around, show your face and talk." I demanded. I refuse to let him do as he pleases.

"Krumsvlptarm firivag –" He stopped waiting for me to repeat.

Ah, he doesn't take no for an answer I see. It's alright, I don't give a yes.

If he is stubborn, I can be his ancestor in stubbornness.

"You are stubborn, Eblilis." He pronounced, addressing me with the weird name he has been calling me since the first time he appeared in my dreams.

"As should I be."

You can go to hell but I will not do your bidding.

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

Hello Sweeties,

Next chapter is here. Enjoy!

What do you think about the chapter? Good?

The hawk is her pet. Is it really there to be her pet?

Why is Azar guarding her? On whose command?

Who is the man who has been appearing in her dreams?

Why is he hell bent on making Acacia repeat the mantra?

Do you think Acacia's stubbornness is reasonable?

I think she should be stubborn and should not fall for any tricks after what she has been going through.