The Silent Chloey and The Elegant Phantom

Author's Preface

The Silent Chloey Series

Book Two: The Silent Chloey and The Elegant Phantom

Monsters called yoma, who live to eat humans and are disguised, inhabit my world. Only a warrior like me can stop the creatures and save humanity. However, I am condemned to fight the monster within me, or to lose myself completely.

Chloey's life is normal enough for a "Claymore", a silver-eyed slayer who possesses supernatural strength and powers.

Chloey's duty is simple, find the yoma and kill them. It has been the same for her since her parents died and she came to the nameless "Organization".

After losing her best friend Kate in her first group assignment one would think that Chloey would have left the Organization, but she remains. Not even Chloey herself can explain why she remains a warrior, although now things are more complicated than before. Chloey has only just begun to discover what she can do and she must hide this new found ability from the men of the Organization. Luckily for Chloey, their interests lay elsewhere than her…but what will happen if the "experiment" causes more harm than good. How will she cope when the Number 1 loses herself completely and her respected Captain is blamed for what she couldn't control?

And what of the tall, elegant warrior whose claim to the Number 1 is so fast that she causes a wave of havoc, just with her blade? How will Chloey cope when she loses yet another friend to circumstances that she can't control?

Author's notes

I know, I know, you wanted to read other material first, and you were hoping to see me take a break from The Silent Chloey series, but I can't really, because I must begin where I left you all, the gathering of the warriors, the soul link that failed. I know that most of you have had access to the manga online at some point, and would have heard about Rafaela and Luciela, at the very least seeing that Luciela is the abyssal of the south. In this novel of The Silent Chloey series, we have it from the "eyes", the warrior whose job it is to sense yoki for the men. I don't think that even Chloey has words for what she is about to witness, nor will she ever have the words for it. What we discovered in The Silent Chloey: The Number 7 was a young warrior who was bereft of her precious best friend, a young warrior who had to navigate a world of monsters almost on her own. I have a feeling that if you have read the first book, you will find a different Chloey again, an older Chloey who has been a warrior for two years, and follow her through the most trying time of her life, those years where rebellion is certainly on the card for most warriors. I have a feeling that the Chloey we see here is one that knows that the clock ticks as she continues her work and that one day, once a new "eyes" is ready; she will be cast aside to be killed. I find it interesting that Yagi chose Hysteria to be the Number 1 before Rosemary, that it was Rosemary that landed the final blow thanks to Teresa. I find it highly interesting that Rockwell hill was the sight of his chosen massacre, Hysteria's last hurrah, her last stand before her life was taken. I feel almost sorry for Hysteria, that she is a nice enough person, despite the attention seeking that she seems to have in grained in her. Chloey (i.e. me as a claymore) would most certainly annoy Hysteria, but certainly feels quite awed by the fact that Hysteria even choses to spar with her and indeed choses to make friends with Chloey Meg and Claire, although the latter two are a lot better at pleasing Hysteria's attention needs than Chloey. Hysteria would most likely be intrigued by the fact that Chloey gets away with saying very little at all. Chloey's nickname will become ironic in the later books, in the fact that she keeps things from even her comrades, so staying silent about things that have shaped her. Wow this is long but please bear with me; it's not going to be much longer…

If you are looking for more TSC action, and you're reading this on , then here's a crash hot tip, you will find that TSC is updated sooner on , and updated later on . I suggest you check out my profile on DA, (Don't worry my Pen Name is the same on DA as on , YugannaMirialover, so you won't have too much trouble finding me. If you still can't find me, just look up The Silent Chloey, or Yuganna, I will come up fairly quickly! Alternatively you could look for the group Phantom Miria FC (PhantomMiriaFC) and I'm on the top of the page as the group's founder) as I also do pictures for TSC and other fiction works, as well as putting up parts of my work, including stuff you won't see on !

Now all that's left for you to do is to enjoy book 2! Thanks for reading; I look forward to your reviews!

Prologue: The Abyssal of the South

The warriors of the nameless Organization were gathered together from their regions. Unbeknownst to them, it was to see if a new idea could be tested, the idea of a "soul-link" to prevent awakening forcing the warrior to lose her mind, and in the hopes that they could be steps closer to a controllable awakened being. The warriors knew nothing about this research and even if they did it wouldn't change the fact that they were all bound to serve the nameless Organization until they either awakened or died. There was a slight catch however, as the men discovered. They needed to be sure that the rest of the warriors were behaving themselves so they had Lana the Cunning and The Silent Chloey keep a tight watch on them. The soon discovered that the Number 7 put more fear in to her lower ranked comrades than the Number 10. It was long since known to the Organization that The Silent Chloey was a specialist warrior, one that focused on distance perception and was hardly swayed in to saying more than a few words at any one time. Rimuto found that by keeping The Silent close they could, if they commanded her to, find out exactly what the warriors were doing while they were at Sutafu, and better still, they would also be able to find out if the trainees were doing what they were supposed to. However it had long since been noticed that The Silent was for the most part actually silent. Her voice was soft and quiet, so they had to strain their hearing just to hear what was going on. It was worth it all though. For the most part things were peaceful leading up to the soul-link experiment. Preparations were under way and everything seemed to be going to plan, on the surface at least. The men were slightly oblivious as to what was really going on among the warriors because The Silent was keeping a few…secrets for her comrades' combined sakes.

I waited quietly like always, of course I had the most boring task of all the warriors and I envied the fact that Skylar and the others got to do as they pleased while I was stuck near the men, having to answer their questions and stand all day mostly on my own. I tried not to heave a sigh of annoyance, but it was very difficult not to do so. I'd just about had enough of the men and all of the questions that they were asking me. I sighed and was grateful for the time that they called all of the warriors in to the main reporting room. it would give me a break from having to read their yoki in detail. I half leant back on one of the pillars within the main reporting room and closed my eyes. I had my hair drawn back out of the way now and it was a good thing. The high ponytail was long enough to touch the top of my amour, and I was sure that it would get longer soon. I didn't really care about it that much as I was worn out and ready to sleep soon. As I carefully began to close my eyes, I realised that I wasn't going to get any sleep in my current position, that I needed to actually lay down before I could get some. I could feel my comrades as they entered the main reporting room in Sutafu, Rafaela and Luciela were in front followed be Lakyn and Katia, Indiana was muttering swear words under her breath like normal. Skylar made a bee line for me, although Meg and Claire beat her to it, hugging me tightly. I shook my head and hugged the girls, though I didn't do it so tight that they couldn't breathe or have broken ribs to deal with. As my gaze swept the room I saw Hysteria preening, and I noticed Ashton's half raised eyebrow. Kirra was nervous and Amy stood dejectedly behind someone, though I didn't know who. I could sense a few warriors standing well back from Bryce, and I sighed and yawned loudly, much to everyone's surprise. No one really noticed that I was in the room until I did that. There were a few snickers and they went quiet again. We were all waiting to see what the men would order us to do.

After what felt like an eternity, one of the lesser handlers made an appearance and informed us that it was time for us to head out to the open area of Sutafu, where further instructions would be given. We were not to distract the trainees, although I knew that if we ever walked past them they would look at us all, regardless of our best efforts.

I calmly went to follow my comrades when I heard someone call my name, I turned and the handler came over to me,

"Number 7, your task is to make sure that you stay here," he told me, "Rimuto has commanded that you are to keep them informed of what's going on."

I lowered my head and retreated to my post, the place where I stood when doing such tasks. I walked up to the glassless window and watched as my comrades filed out on to the large area, I saw Skylar look up at me and wave. I waved in return and shrugged, I could feel amusement in her yoki, and I knew that she would be perhaps laughing, or close to it. I could sense all of my comrades as well as see them. I made a gesture and Skylar's yoki stumbled a bit, she was curious as to why I had to disappear again, but she didn't do much. I felt a push on my leg,

"What's wrong Chloey? Why aren't you out there with them?" asked Kate.

"Orders as usual," I sighed softly,

"Oh," Kate huffed, and she barked.

I looked up, and Orsay came towards me, he seemed a little stressed, but it was hard to tell because I couldn't see his face real well. I got the message and I clanked over to the main reporting room, where some of the men were waiting. Rimuto sat in his throne-like chair and the rest of the men where the higher handlers no doubt. I sat in a corner and once again focused on my comrades' yoki. I didn't like the feeling that was coursing through my body at the moment, and I could feel several of the trainees filled with tension as well, it seemed that they too were to witness what was going on, just like the rest of the warriors. I leant back and yawned. Kate sat at my feet and when one of the handlers got too close she growled at him. It was funny to watch, but my amusement didn't last long. I shoved my sword in to the ground and sat with my back on the flat of it. Screw them; I was going to get some well needed sleep. I lay on my side and it was the last thing that I remembered.

"Number 7," a man called out to the sleeping warrior, "Number 7,"

"Leave her," said Orsay, "it looks like she's finally sleeping; I've noticed that she only sleeps about once a week."

The other handlers cast worried looks at him,

"Don't worry; she'll wake if anything serious happens," Orsay told them, "she is sensitive to yoki after all."

The men looked at the sleeping warrior and wondered if Orsay was right.

I woke suddenly; something was wrong, very wrong. I was on my feet in a few seconds; the men must have been watching me, for they tensed when I leapt up. Kate was on her feet, a low snarl in her throat. It seemed that she never missed a beat and she knew that I was worried about something. I ran over to the window and I froze as I saw what was going on. The warriors were fighting a creature unlike any awakened one that I had ever seen. It was a large cat like creature, with two tails swinging around it. It was a deep red colour and based on what I could sense it was powerful. Rafaela was straining to control it, I could see it strike out, and I felt several warriors go down. I froze in horror as I realised what was going on.

Luciela was out of control and Rafaela was barely holding on to her yoki. Luciela struck, one of her tails lashing Rafaela, taking out her left eye and ripping her right shoulder apart. I felt so shocked that I couldn't even breathe. Kate looked up at me, but I couldn't meet her eyes. I knew at once that the Number 1 had become a creature of the abyss, Luciela was gone, and it was because the men had ordered her to, forced her to lose her mind for their own gains. I knew that many of my comrades had died. I could tell that many of the trainees had died. I ran, crying, though the tears have no sobs behind them.

I rush to the trainees; about ten of them were up against the wall. Less than half their class, I looked around and noticed a large pile of rubble, I walked over to it, worried. I carefully lift it up, Lyra and several girls were underneath it. Lyra's yoki was weak, and I realised that her body had been severed in half. I knew that she was dying. A quick look revealed that the others were also dead. The trainees near the wall were all cowering in fear. There was a strange girl up the front, her long braided hair was all the way down to her waist and she looked at me, her sliver eyes wide with fear.

"Who is that?" one of the girls asked her hair was long and straight. I spotted Teresa and when our eyes met, she walked over to me.

"Hey, you're that warrior from before, aren't you," she asked,

I smiled and I nodded. I knew that the trainees weren't ready to see what I was standing in front of, so I spoke,

"Is everyone ok?" my voice was soft, gentle.

Another trainee cried out, "You're the Claymore that saved me!" she had short hair and seemed childish,

"Noel, aren't you?" I said calmly,

"YOU REMEBERED!" Noel cried, then she looked down,

"How bad…how bad is it?" the girl with the long braided hair asked,

I looked at them, and I felt truly saddened by what they had just witnessed, I turned away and looked for my comrades' yoki. Less than half of the warriors had survived. I could sense Skylar, Meg, Claire, Ashton, Roman, Bryce, Hysteria, Amy, Kirra, Rosemary, Jessica, Willow, Harmony, Rafaela, Briarly, Katia and Indiana. Less than half the warriors remained. Just from Luciela being out of control. I fought the tears, it wouldn't help the trainees to see me lose it, they needed to be reassured that everything was going to be ok. The men rushed in and started yelling. Kate howled loudly and everyone went quiet. I felt my comrades all stop as well. Skylar had heard Kate's howl easily and she tensed.

The longhaired girl looked at me, waiting for an answer, but I couldn't bear the thought, it would frighten her and cause them all grief, and yet I felt compelled to tell them, to at least put their minds at ease.

"Bad," I say softly, "they're gone."

Several of them start crying as the realisation dawns on them. Their classmates were lying dead under the rubble caused by Luciela. The men rushed in and then the yelling truly started, until another of Kate's howls ripped the air. It was much louder than the last, and the living warriors all tensed.

"WHERE HAS SHE GONE?" one of the men yelled,

I looked at him and waited to see if he was enquiring about Luciela or about someone else.

"Where has Luciela gone Number 7?" Orsay asked me. His voice quieter, but just as stressed.

I said one word, "South…"

The men looked at me and the trainees flinched against the wall again, I looked at the braided long hair, something told me that I would see her again. I walked out to see if there were more of my comrades among the living. I doubted it, but I just had to check. Even if it was just hopeless and pointless, I just had to know. I wanted to be sure that they were truly dead, or if they were dying to take that pain away from them like I'd had to do on numerous occasions. I would end their suffering. My amour clanked as I walked out of the ruined building. A scene of pure carnage met my eyes…