The Aura is With Us

Chapter 42: Please Wake me up!

Amanda had woken up feeling both exhausted and oddly refreshed. Where there was a heavy weight around her heart, seemed to had dropped a few pounds. She felt groggy at first, sleep clinging to her body and mind. Awareness coming in a trickle as the memories of the previous evening replayed. Some part of her felt she should be mortified, felt like she should be running from her bed to pack and leave before she could do anymore damage to her family. However, in that moment of resting on her bed, still dressed in her formal dinner clothes, the young woman couldn't find it in herself to care. It was a rare moment of weariness over powering her almost constant anxiety and stress.

Umbreon was awake, but the Dark type seemed content to remain in the silky bedding at Amanda's side. Pichu was still asleep on a satin pillow, tiny snores escaping from the mouse, and Roserade was probably still in his pokeball. So, there wasn't any prompting to get out of bed from her partners. However, her skin felt like glue and dust was sticking to it, and there was no going back to sleep until she had showered.

With all the enthusiasm as a Snorlax during naptime, Amanda peeled herself from her mattress, grabbed a towel and a change of clothes, and trudged into her on suit bathroom. The hot water was wonderful, washing away the dirt, grim and emotions from last night in rivers of warmth. After drying off, she dropped rubbing alcohol in her ears letting them dry out, before inserting her hearing aids. The rotten taste on her tongue was scrubbed off with berry flavored toothpaste, and she parted her hair down the middle of her skull. The black and blue spikes, weighed down by wetness, fell into a chaotic, yet somewhat symmetrical pattern, framing her face and covering her ears.

By the time she walked back into her room, clad in a reverse-tie-dye black t-shirt and blue jeans, Amanda felt refreshed. Umbreon was awake and upon seeing her trainer, gently leapt off the bed and nuzzled Amanda's thigh.

"I'm okay," Amanda mumbled, scratching the dark type's head.

Pichu was still only half awake, the little yellow mouse grumbling at having to get up. Amanda smiled at the electric type fondly. He was never a morning Pokémon.

Her fuzzy socks slipped on the hard wood floors of the manor as Amanda made her way to the kitchen. It was probably a little late to help Mrs. Rose prep breakfast for the twins, but the young mistress of the house couldn't ignore the habit that drove her to move.

Mrs. Rose didn't allow Amanda to help her with the breakfast that morning. Usually, the little elderly cook would at first decline the assistance, but eventually give in and let the young mistress help, however that wasn't the case this morning. Amanda's governess was quiet firm that she wouldn't lift a finger in that kitchen and shoved her out, even getting Absol to escort her away.

Weariness began to seep back in, numbing her senses the further Amanda got from the kitchen. She didn't have a goal to focus on now. No destination either, leaving her entirely at the whim of the two dark types that walking alongside her.

"...I love my island home..."

Amanda blinked, that song was familiar, and the voice was hers. However, the tone of which it was sung...that was from an era long passed.

"...it's my destiny..."

Fear spike in her for a moment. Why was that song playing? Mother hated it. It was banned from the manor, along that show...

"...with you feeling free..."

Confusion bringing her back from her disassociation, Amanda stalked forward. Entering the entertainment lounge before she recognized where in the manor she was.