Rey just looked at her once and an evil thought came to his mind and executed it immediately. Rey did not hesitate as he jumped. One looking at him would think that he was at a springboard jumping into a swimming pool, with the bed as the swimming pool.
He miraculously managed to get to the other side of the bed that was at the wall. He managed to squeeze himself between the wall and Aurora and only then could he heave a sigh knowing that he was safe.
Aurora was the most shocked of all but she ended up letting out a chuckle which got rid of the irritation she had felt before. To Rey, that was an indication that all was fine now.
Alaric who witnessed all that clenched his fist and he was not letting go of Rey this time. He approached the bed and Rey got in kneeling position and was behind Aurora his hands on her shoulders. Alaric took in a calm breath and closed his eyes for split second.
"Step out of the bed, Aurora," he said in an calm irrefutable tone. Aurora subconsciously tried to stand up but Rey was nog going to let her. He held her firmly with his hands and made her sit back.
She glared at Rey but he feigned ignorance and grinned at her mischievously. She turned to Alaric with an apologetic face. Alaric once again closed his eyes and took in a deep calming breath.
He recalled the day he woke up during the end of year party when he heard Rey carry Aurora to the stadium and he never got his revenge. He opened his eyes and calmly spoke.
"Rey, let go of her."
Rey let out a scoff. He was not the one to get easily hypnotized by the seemingly soft and harmless words.
"Like I would ever fall for that," he scoffed and Alaric walked towards the study table and threw one array plate to Aurora who caught it with both hands.
She could only look at him surprised at what he was trying to do. Rey was the most shocked. What if it was a weapon and she would use it to attack him? He could only raise his vigilance at her.
Alaric then looked at Rey and threw another array plate to him. Rey was not sure of Alaric's intentions and he reluctantly reached for it with both hands. But nothing happened next to which he heaved a sigh of relief.
Alaric was silent for a while and Aurora continued to channel her energy into the array plate and it glowed which shocked Rey thinking that he had been tricked as he stepped back from her but nothing happened. But the heat from the array plate made him suspicious of their intentions.
" I know you both are wondering what these are. They are obviously array plates but they are not normal array plates. These can be used as communication devices. They are specially made such that they can transmit information no matter the distance," Alaric started but this shocked the two.
It was common knowledge that it was impossible for a communication device to work that way. All had limitations of around 100 kilometers. Having the ability to communicate no matter the distance was never heard of.
"These ones are specifically made using the hardest wood, The Buloke, I want to go for it is the only one that has the ability to harbour this array. If any other wood was used, it would get crushed to dust. Since we are all heading out today, I thought that it is better we keep in touch during the holiday," Alaric continued.
"To make it work, you have to channel your energy into it and once it lights up it will try to reach out to the others. What will happen next is that the others will light blinkingly and also produce some heat to make you aware of it if its in your pocket.
"As a contingency measure, I have added a feature that allows it to vibrate so that if you are far away, you will be able to know that someone is trying to reach you. It is important to make sure that you have it close to you always," Alaric explained.
Aurora nodded as all the puzzles git perfectly. Rey was shocked. He did not understand when his friend managed to learn such an inpressive skill. He could also not help but reminisce of his thoughtfulness.
It was true that everytime they went for a holiday, they never got in touch and having the communication devices was a great breakthrough as they could finally keep in touch. Aurora then looked at the other two plates on the table.
"What about those two? Do you have someone in mind who you are going to give them to?" She asked and Alaric shook his head as a no.
"The two are programmed differently and they are not connected in the same channels as these three of ours which are connected together. It is impossible to reach them using these ours since they are not connected," Alaric explained which she nodded in understanding.
"And what do you plan to do with them?" Rey asked.
"As for these two, I have big plans for them," Alaric replied with a mysterious voice. Clearly not going to say what he was going to use them for.
"Is it okay for us to have them for free?" Aurora asked playfully as she glanced at Rey to see his reaction which turned ugly as she had expected. These communication devices were the first of their kind and it was only rightful that they would be masterpieces.
"Now that I think of it, how much will you be paying for it?" Alaric asked playfully looking at Rey.
Rey scoffed and let out a harrumph.
"I have every right to own one," he replied shamelessly and the two could only shake their heads in defeat.
Alaric reached for the other two plates on the table and rubbed them slowly. The room was silent and he focused on them. He channelled his energy into the array plates and they glowed with a different colour in the mini-arrays. Rather than blue, they glowed purple.
In the midst of the awkward silence, Rey found his chance. He saw that Aurora was focused on her communication device and Alaric was focusing on the other two. If not now, then he would be a fool if he did not use this chance to escape.
When he saw Alaric channel his energy into the array plates, he found his chance and he glanced at the door and in an instant, he dashed from the bed and flung it open.
Aurora was shocked but Alaric had an evil smile on his lips. Everything had played out just as he had expected. Feigning ignorance towards Rey's action so he would lower his guard.
He then proceeded to explain the use of the array plates and his hostility had been extinguished. After he finished explaining, he busied himself with the other array plates and knowing Rey, he was a chance and he would not let go of the chance to get away scot free.
He knew Aurora well enough that with her curiosity, she would try to discover something more and Rey would feel that it was the best time to run away which he did falling right into Alaric's trap.
This was a well calculated plan that out of all things, required high level of patience. Rey was I can joinsmart and difficult to trick but Alaric was patient enough and created a systematic plan that Rey 'smartly' fell for.
That was Alaric's thought process. If it won't work today, it does not mean that it would be the same tomorrow. One would end up falling into his trap if they thought for a second that he had forgotten.
Alaric stood up slowly and walked towards the door. Aurora could feel that something was not right. Rather than Rey winning, he had been played.
Immediately Rey got to the first door, he closed it so that he could buy a few seconds and he the rushed to the second door and reached the handle and pulled it down and pulled the door.
He was met with a clicking sound as the door failed to open. It was locked! He attempted several times in succession furiously to open it but all that came was the sound of the lock clicking. He felt his world spin as he was not willing to believe that the door was locked.
"No... No. No, no,no... Nooo...!" Rey shouted like a defeated villain and he started to think of what to do next.
"Damn you Alaric! You tricked me! I swear that you are not going to get to me!" He recalled the door to Alaric's room was closed. If he could firmly hold the lock, he would survive.
He started running back to the door. What happened next left him frozen as he saw the door open and Alaric's right foot stepping out the door...