Explaining arrays

Author's note: This is from Seraphina's point of view

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The day of the Blood Moon has come, the perfect time for making blood oaths, how Sergio explained it.

Some parts of the mansion are still pending to be completed, mostly fit-and-finish in the common areas, but the structural work is done, and the house is equipped with gas, water, electricity, and high-speed internet. The kitchen is ready to be used, and Maria made sure that our bedrooms and bathrooms are set up. With that, we have where to sleep, eat, and wash.

The oath ceremony will happen in the evening, and Duke and I came early that morning in order to scout the area and finalize our plans for setting security systems because we gave our construction crew two days off.

We arrived with Sergio, Zoe, Luca, and Ash.

Ash was helping Sergio set up the altar on the clearing, behind the garden.

Sergio's villa was also nearly done with only the last few pieces of furniture still pending to arrive, and Sergio personally supervised the completion of work while tending to his garden of medicinal plants. He promised to give us a tour when it's ready.

Zoe and Luca went with Mitch to buy extra meat because the guys suddenly had an urge for a barbeque, to celebrate the oath, and they feared that there is not enough meat stored in the freezer. Actually, they suggested going for a hunt to catch fresh prey, but I didn't want Pio and his men to be alerted by our presence; they would definitely be curious about new werewolves in the area, so I told Zoe and Luca to find a butcher's shop because I didn't want to deal with Pio. Not now.

They will find out about the nature of new tenants soon.

Duke sent a message to Pio, informing him that we are in the villa with a few guests, and we hope that they will stay away.

Duke and I held hands and walked through the forest, making a large circle around the villa. We already decided where we will set up what type of surveillance, but that was based on the map, and now that I've got to see it personally, I realized that some adjustments will be needed.

Toward the North-West was one tall cliff and I suggested that we build our security perimeter while utilizing natural obstacles. Duke agreed.

"What kind of arrays will you set up?", Duke asked, genuinely interested. I never told him much about them.

"Some are monitoring, some will capture intruders, and some can cause harm or restrict abilities.", I responded. "Monitoring ones will be always on, as well as the one that prohibits flight. The arrays that cause real harm will be passive until activated because I don't want people accidentally stepping into them and exposing their existence. Ideally, we won't need to use those." One can hope. "But in case someone really attacks us, if they know where those arrays are in advance, they can just go around them. Arrays are great tools, but the drawback is that they can't be moved at will so without the element of surprise, they are useless."

"Tell me more. How do they work?", Duke continued asking.

"Think of them like energies that can impact your soul and mind. There are illusion arrays that can make you feel that it suddenly got dark or foggy, your senses could be cut off, or you could see a huge predator attacking. It won't really happen, but you will believe it's real. Once you are caught in the array, unless you are familiar with it or possess immense strength of mind, you won't be able to leave until I release you. Even if you walk or run, you will only move in circles. There is no limit to how many people can be affected because arrays use the power from nature, and the runes are helping gather energy in a specific area and channel it…"

Duke listened with fascination. "So, it's like getting trapped inside 3D projection, like virtual reality."

"Yes.", I confirmed. "But this virtual reality looks like the real thing. It's not limited to vision and hearing, you get the scent, temperature, and touch also because the array affects the mind, tricking you that the illusion is really happening."

"Can I try it out?"

I always admired his readiness for an adventure. "Sure. Once I set them up." I will let him try a few harmless illusion arrays. I don't want to risk him getting hurt.

"How do you know if someone triggered it?"

I raised my left hand and pointed at my wrist. "My bracelet will be connected with each array, and it will notify me when someone stepped within the array. Unfortunately, I won't know if that person is a friend or foe, but the array can be set to activate if a person inside it has malicious intentions. However, I don't know toward whom those intentions are directed and there are also some who are good at masking their thoughts and emotions, so it's not foolproof and I can't leave it on autopilot without risking harming people who are friendly." Somehow, Zeiroi's image popped into my mind. He likes to wander aimlessly like a ghost of the forest possessed him.

"I will rely on your system to capture video feed and based on that we will decide what to do with people who trigger our defenses."

Duke liked this. "Teamwork."

Duke and I worked out areas for detecting arrays and cameras to be furthest from the mansion, then we will have a perimeter that can trap or restrict people who walk into it, and closest to the mansion we will have a number of arrays and weapons that can harm intruders.

Between those, we will have a maze of safe paths and people living in the mansion will know about some of them.

Of course, safe paths will be covered with cameras, infrared sensors, and Duke acquired from somewhere lasers that can cut through metal without making a sound. My Duke is well connected in various areas, even the military. Impressive.

Once we have everything set up, our home will be an impenetrable fortress, and not only in a sense of security on the property but also because we have a network of tunnels and facilities underground. Technically, we can disappear in there for months without the need to come out.

Well, when I set up a portal (or two), we can move to a different location so we will never be trapped, no matter what happens. I like to have options.

We prioritized security because we don't want anyone who stays in our home (staff included) to be harmed in any way.

Duke is paranoid because he lost his family, but I understand him completely. Even without the gory image of Duke lying in the pool of his blood in the underground garage, I saw my share of bloodshed and I am always amazed by how some people put a small value on life.

"Ah!", I screamed when Duke suddenly pulled me toward him, and I found myself in his embrace.

I was lost in my thoughts, and I didn't see it coming.

"What are you doing?", I asked through giggles when he started planting kisses all over my face.

"Do you know that when you talk about your research or arrays, your whole face lights up? You have no idea how sexy you are."

"I see…", I said in a singing voice. "You get turned on when I talk about esoteric science."

Duke chuckled. "I get turned on when you talk. I get turned on when you breathe."

I gasped when my back hit the trunk of a massive tree. I didn't realize that Duke was pushing me backward.

"Duke… not here…", I spoke weakly when his hands moved to lift my skirt, but I knew that he could smell my arousal which told him otherwise.

"No one can see us.", he murmured close to my ear and my skirt was already bunched around my waist.

"What if someone hears us?"

My breath hitched when he tore my panties and his sly smile told me that he doesn't care if anyone will hear.

When did he unbutton his pants? And why were my legs around his waist?

My body moved on its own and welcomed the pressure which morphed into friction as Duke claimed me in the middle of the forest and it didn't take more than a few seconds for me to stop caring about where we are and if anyone will see or hear us.

Duke guided me to Heaven expertly with movements of his hips and he swallowed my cries when I reached the ecstatic destination.

God, how much I love him!

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