The Aura is With Us

Chapter 39: A Mother's Wrath

Sir Aaron was once more hit with a sense of déjà vu, when he finally met the mistress of the Gem Manor. Lorelei Gen was a twisted image of his sister and niece. The same dark hair, pale complexion and stormy grey eyes. Yet, the knight at once recognized that this woman was a complete stranger to him.

With Amanda there was small familial connection that, all be it slowly, grew as they spent time together. The girl who wore his sister's face eventually became her own person in Sir Aaron's mind, his niece. A child of brilliant potential and spite, and Sir Aaron couldn't wait until the day she lowered her walls to him fully, and think of him as family. However, same couldn't be said for Amanda's mother.

Despite the similarities between the two, Sir Aaron felt no familial attachment to the elder Gen. There was something un-welcoming about her presence. Perhaps it was the face her teeth were far to bright, or that her smile didn't reach her eyes. Maybe it was the formal manner of which she carried herself. Sir Aaron only knew that he couldn't trust this woman.

His nephew very clearly didn't share Sir Aaron's hesitance. The moment Riley saw his mother, he smiled like there was no tomorrow, and the knight saw a swell of deep love and affection in the younger aura user's soul. Lorelei smiled too, however there was no swell in her aura like that of her son's. There was pride in her heart at the sight of her first-born, but it wasn't for her son. Goh was also quick to marvel, though that had more to do with Lorelei's stature and the child's thirst for knowledge.

Ash was wary, though. Sir Aaron's descendant, leaning closer while the mother and son reunited, to whisper, "I don't think she's actually happy. My mom doesn't look at me like that when I come home after a gym run."

Sir Aaron could only nod at the lad's assessment. Ash's instincts were good, but now was not a good time to unpack them. Especially when it came to his niece's state.

The knight had noticed the change in Amanda's demeaner the moment she laid eyes on the silver chariot out in front of her manor. She stiffened, her aura rippling with fear. It was rather jarring, the only time that Sir Aaron had seen his niece scared was whenever the Bella girl had gotten too close, and even then, she never froze. However, the moment Amanda eyed that car, she halted mid-step, and her eyes grew wide with true fear. That car meant something unsavory to her.

And it only got worse when they entered the house, and Lorelei was in sight. Amanda shut down, biting her tongue and keeping her eyes on the hard woods of the floor. She stood straight, and didn't react. Appearing more like a doll, then a living woman.

"Oh Riley darling," Lorelei said, "You should've told me you were coming home for a visit, I would've planned a gala."

Riley laughed, shaking his head, "It's fine mom, it was kind of supposed to be a surprise."

Lorelei huffed, "Oh dear, you know I don't enjoy unknown variables. And I see you have brought some."

"Yeah, recently there's been some genealogical discoveries," Riley said, "Aaron and Ash are distant relatives."

Lorelei raised an almost judgmental brow, fixing a predatory look on Sir Aaron and Ash, "Relatives?"

Sir Aaron smiled as she approached and offered his hand, but only to be polite, "Aaron it's a pleasure."

Lorelei's hand felt cold in his, she hummed, "You're Northern Kantoian?"

Sir Aaron nodded curtly, sending a mental signal to Lucario to keep quiet, "Yes, actually. What gave me away? The accent?"