A Phantom's Trilogy Extra Chapter I: Lido's Aftermath
Months had passed since the battle had happened in Lido, instigated by the former mayor, Marchello deLupia. For the family that was left it was tough dealing with the pieces as more of his horrific deeds came to light. Chloey was about the only one who didn't change, the only one to keep her head straight on her shoulders despite what people thought about the entire event and the hated whispers of the former mayor. Marchello was put to rest where their forefathers were and Chloey sensed that many things were perhaps to blame for such a thing happening to Lido in the first place. She took the blame for her cousin's short comings and aimed to eliminate them one by one. The inquest was about half way through all of the evidence as to what Marchello had done when the old warrior turned her attention to the young women that he'd hurt and families he'd no doubt ruined with what he'd done.
She went to each girl's family and did what she could to help them, some families were glad to have their daughters back, others wanted nothing to do with them, forcing the girls back to Lido where Chloey helped them find jobs as maids, or brought them to the church for a home. Irene was soon the last one left. Chloey had ridden miles from Lido to the girl's home town, Gineve trotted ahead of the pony that Irene was riding (or clinging onto for dear life, Chloey couldn't tell which since Irene had a very interesting poker face). By the time they arrived to the girl's home, one thing was certain to Chloey. It wasn't very tidy or a safe place to have a child in her mind. The roof of the house was in pieces, parts of it exposing rooms with nothing but basic frame work to keep the weather away. The windows was bare and broken, almost as if the house was abandoned. There was a small child in rags playing about the bare dirt front yard with a couple of sticks, scratches all along her arms and legs, even a few bruises. The town was well outside of Lido's control so there was nothing the old warrior could do about it.
"Excuse me," Chloey said gently to the child, and the little one jumped up, wide green eyes regarded the old warrior, while dark knotted tangles surrounded her thin face. Chloey spoke carefully, "Is your father or mother home, I would like to speak with them if they are,"
The child nodded and ran inside the broken home while Chloey got off her horse. Irene had trouble getting off the pony until Chloey gently got her foot out of the stirrup iron. Irene landed on both her feet and self-consciously tugged at the pale olive dress that Chloey had given her. Irene's long wavy hair rested at her waist, tidy with her bangs made into a headband while half of her hair was a simple bun giving her a clear field of vision. She looked neat and tidy; something that Chloey thought was fine. A gaunt sun browned man arrived, face looking like he'd seen much grief, scars and wrinkles one with each other,
"What the fuck do ya want?" he said loudly, "We've no use for nobles around 'ere ya 'ear me!"
Chloey's silver eyes narrowed at his nasty tongue, "I have come to return your daughter to you," She said calmly, Irene was hovering near Chloey's elbow, something on the girl's face gave Chloey a partial warning that he wasn't going to like it, but the warrior waited calmly all the same. It was a face that she always had, even in her own fear; it was a cursed gift as far as Chloey was concerned.
"She ain't my daughter!" the man yelled, "I don't have two daughters…"
Irene had an odd burst of fury as she slapped her own father across his face, the sound shocking Chloey as much as it did him,
"You had two daughters," Irene hissed, "you just threw one of us to the dogs and expected that she would die,"
Chloey struggled to keep herself from having her jaw drop, it was hard to both hear and see Irene be so assertive but Chloey was glad that she at least stopped hitting him,
"Why ya ungrateful little wrench…be gone, ya no child of mine, I won't have no silver-eyed harlot 'ere! BE GONE," he yelled.
Chloey calmly walked forward and pulled the man down to her level, "Is that so," the half-yoma warrior hissed seemingly calm despite the anger she was bitting back at the insult she was no harlot and certainly didn't like being called one, "Then you are ruder than I thought, I am no harlot take care to remember that,"
The man suddenly shuddered uncontrollably as Chloey let him feel just a little bit of her yoki, the monster aura that terrified the council was enough to send the man backwards, shaking with sweat down his face,
"Come then, young Irene," Chloey said calmly, "I suppose we wasted a trip getting here,"
Irene looked at Chloey and nodded, Chloey returned to her horse, and she petted the mare's muzzle, the strange sickness that had plagued her for the last three months was really starting to annoy the little warrior. She got on unaided and gathered the reins just a bit, Gineve whinnied and Irene walked towards the pony, before she went to get on, she turned back and spoke to the child
"Take care Cassy," Irene said, "grow big and strong, ok,"
"Reenie," the little girl ran over to the pony before the man could stop her,
"I know Cassy, one day we'll see each other again, 'kay,"
The child nodded and Irene got onto the pony, following Chloey's example and tightening her reins.
The ride back to Lido was quiet and Chloey noticed that Irene didn't want to talk, so she didn't push it. They were about three days from Lido when Chloey decided to camp out for the night. She sighed inwardly as Irene fell asleep by the fire. So much had happened so quickly. Chloey doubted that she was going to get some sleep, so she set about trying to sketch the strange creature that she fought with Natalie and Miata. It had been so difficult to see, preferring to hide in the shadows, but there were some things that Chloey knew clearly about it. It seemed to be on four legs, tentacles somewhat slimy looking. Wolf like was the closest the warrior could come up with, though it was far larger than Kate, almost ten times the size of Chloey's beloved pet. It was clearly not a yoma or even awakened, there was no yoki to it, and she couldn't work out the rest of it, since there was a lot of body that she couldn't make out at the time…it annoyed her quite a bit as all she had seen was its front "legs" and head as well as those disgusting tentacles it kept making and letting loose to attack with. The warrior shuddered at the thought of them even now well after the creature was dead. There was nothing like it at all in any of the monsters that she'd faced. Nothing…how she was expected to know exactly what it was, was beyond her. Chloey focused her energies on sketching it, hoping that a picture would at least bring it to light enough that Chris would know what it was. He was far older than she was at any rate and had seen much more than his younger wife.
She didn't even realise that she'd fallen asleep, book open on her stomach pencil in the grass. She only woke when strange sounds touched her sensitive ears. She was on her feet in half an instant, grabbing for her claymore, silver eyes scanning the clearing only to find Gineve and Blaze nibbling on grass happily. She looked up at the sky and the clouds moved revealing a half moon in the sky. Irene was near the dying fire and Chloey calmly threw another log on to keep it going for an hour or more. She looked at the sketch and sighed, it was the best that she had to show Chris. She put the book away and settled back down near the fire. It was still hours until dawn, Irene was dead asleep and the horses had settled down for the night, Gineve lying down with a half groan, eyes closed as she trusted Chloey to keep watch. Chloey stared into the flames deep in thought.
It was about then, that she felt it. A tiny, seemingly weak yoki near them and it made her jump since as far as she was vaguely aware there wasn't anyone close enough to them that she wouldn't have sensed them. She tried to pin point it and felt what little colour she had drain from her face. She'd not though it even possible. It just wasn't true; surely it was a case of her mind playing tricks on her. However it was when it moved that Chloey flipped out, for the first time in her life Chloey was anything but silent and that was saying a lot, even if she was slightly louder than when she was enjoying Chris' strength. It took her a couple of hours to calm down and when she did, it was nearly time to move out again. She had a bone to pick with her husband when she got home, she decided. The last thing they needed was a child before things had settled back to normal. The only thing that she was worried about was how he was going to react to it. The news certainly wasn't expected and she knew there would be a lot of excitement when she arrived home and told him.
Chloey rested her left arm by her side, right hand surely gripping the reins. She was telling Irene some of the area's local history. Irene seemed to be enjoying it, and asked a few questions that reminded Chloey just how much had changed since she was a child. As they rode on, Chloey felt the need to suppress the baby's yoki, and worked on pushing it down. She was about half way through an explanation of the history of Lido when she was a young girl. She knew that Meg was about; Kate leapt out of the bushes and made a lovely howl of welcome and Irene giggled. Chloey smiled lightly and said clearly, "Meg, I know you're out here, why don't you join us?"
Meg came from the left of them, which Chloey expected, she'd sensed Meg after all and it was easy as cake for her when it came to yoki. Meg grinned widely and trotted over towards them; she slowed to a walk and walked with them, chatting the whole way while Chloey simply listened calmly to Meg. Irene asked a few questions and enjoyed the jokes that Meg told. The clean new road soon appeared and Chloey waved at the hard working young men that were making it, some smiled and waved back, they returned to singing the songs happily bringing a smile to the Little Lady's face. She was very eager to see Chris and the look on his face when she actually got to tell him the news. Chloey rode onwards and soon came within half a day of Lido. The sun was starting to set and Irene was nodding off in the saddle, the pony was a Lidoian breed that was well used to travelling long distances and Chloey paused for a moment, she could stop for a rest, but instinct told her to keep moving. She kept leading the way to Lido, the gates finally looking like they had when she was just a small girl, the council wanting to make them beautiful marble works of art that welcomed people to Lido. Gineve trotted her way through the dark streets, Kate huffing happily alongside the black mare as the wolf stretched her legs. The houses Chloey passed were newly repaired and even in the dark there was some beauty to them that the little warrior couldn't resist smiling about. Chloey arrived home at the second night watch; Meg had lifted Irene off the pony and carried the young woman inside as she was half asleep and in need of rest before she had to decide the path that she wanted to take, Chloey got off her horse and turned the mare loose. She trotted to the stables where the younger stable hand was at the ready to take off the saddle and bridle the mare was wearing so that she too could settle down for the night.
Chloey walked up the stairs softly. She chose to remain in her childhood home, much to the shock of the rest of Lido, the humans expecting that she would leave it for the mansion that Marchello had done up so meticulously. It was practical for her to do so, more than desire, although that played a good role as well, Chloey preferred to be practical over beauty. She was about halfway up the stairs when she heard giggling from none other than Claire's room, her comrade laughing at someone clearly. As Chloey walked closer to the door, Marcus' voice cut through the it that was one of the guest rooms that permanently belonged to Claire, her emblem carved into it surrounded by a flower pattern that Claire had drawn herself,
"What's so funny, I told you I am no good at this game Lady Claire!" Marcus declared loudly, "You will always beat me no matter how hard I try!"
Chloey opened the door and saw a red faced Marcus staring at a chess board, Claire on the other side laughing her head off, the candles throwing shadows about the room as the pigtailed warrior rocked back and forward,
"Oh come on with a move like that Marcus I'd say you could actually beat me!" Claire was grinning from ear to ear, playing with her long pigtailed hair now that she'd stopped laughing a bit. She was wearing a light pink shift that was good for the cooler months but now was starting to cause havoc with the weather warming up like it was it made her look a shade of red in her face, like she'd been drinking, however Chloey could tell that wasn't the case.
"I think you have a good chance as well Marcus," Chloey said quietly from the door, making the pair jump a little,
"Lady Chloey…" Marcus squeaked a bit but he didn't take long to calm down, and he actually smiled, "It's good to see you again how was the trip?"
"Just call me Chloey, please Marcus," the little warrior said, "it's much better for me that way,"
She turned to leave,
"I have some news, but I'll leave it 'til tomorrow," Marcus said, Chloey nodded and left the two to their game.
She came to the top of the landing and quietly padded to her own room. The candles were out and the entire room was near pitch black. She could make out the bed resting near the wall and quietly went to her side of the bed. She moved the cover back and slipped in without disturbing Chris who was clearly asleep. She lay on her back and watched the slow change from night to dawn the pale room lighting up as the new day arrived.
Sunlight poured through the window when he woke, it hit him in the face first thing and Chris realised belatedly that he'd forgotten to close the curtains again. He sat up and looked about the room and realised that Chloey was sitting in her favourite chair, right across from the curtains, an odd expression on her face,
"Chloey?" Chris walked over to his wife, and went to lightly tap her arm when she caught his hand, "Chloey what's wrong?"
She didn't say a word, just placing his hand on her stomach, her right hand resting over his. Chris was confused, until he felt it. There was no mistaking that Chloey was indeed with child, and he was rather excited by the idea. Shock of course was the first thing that sprung to mind, the idea just too surprising to say the least, since they, rather he had been trying for a very long time to get his wife with child in the first place. Then came the intense desire to figure out if he was dreaming or not.
"Chloey…" her left hand silenced him and he raised an eyebrow at his small wife so many questions forming in his mind that he wanted to ask, did she know what the baby was? Was she aware that he/she could be very powerful? How long had she known? How come she didn't tell him until now…there was just too much going on in his head to make sense of it at that point in time. He would have to at least start from the beginning if Chloey would let him,
"Let me talk please Chris," her softly voice was firm and Chris nodded, he wanted to hear it from her so badly that he was willing to be quiet, at least until after she'd said it, "I don't want the council knowing just yet," Chris' face fell a little, he didn't understand why she didn't want to share such news, but he let his small wife continue, "as I am not entirely sure when he is due, it may be too early to say anything just yet, especially since I was only aware of this returning home."
Chris tried not to cry out in happiness even though he really wanted to. He did kiss her though, gathering Chloey into his arms with great happiness in his heart. He felt Chloey hold him tightly and draw closer to him. A knock on the door was all it took for the moment to dissolve, much to Chris' displeasure. Ana arrived with a dress for Chloey,
"Here is the gown that you requested late last night Chloey," Ana said, a little confused as to why Chloey would choose such a form hiding dress,
"We have a council meeting to prepare for," Chloey said darkly but she spoke to Ana gently, "I won't require assistance with much but my hair today, I believe that there is news that Marcus has for us,"
Chris stretched and Ana left the dress on the bed saying that she would come by later to help Chloey with her hair. Chloey changed into the dress and Chris pulled on his formal attire with a frown on his face. The light cream shirt sat neatly underneath the teal over shirt, sleeves neatly folded back to his forearms. He wore black leather vambraces and black boots up to his knees. His sword was once again on his back and as he tugged at the black leather holder he turned to look at his wife.
Even without her hair done Chloey looked like the dress was made for her. It dragged a little on the floor, but once she was further along in the pregnancy it would most likely just cover her toes. Chris was awed by how his wife actually looked, she looked in his eyes like an angle that had yet to gain wings. He chuckled to himself and went to get Ana perhaps if time were the key he would love to see how things went down when she actually allowed the rest of Lido know what was going on. He had little doubt of a celebration.
By the time the meeting had begun it was clear that the councillors were no better behaved than usual, arguing loudly over what should be done about the entire inquest. Chloey made it very clear that Miria was expecting them to pass on the findings and Marcus stood up quietly,
"I have reviewed all the financial details that we had from the former mayor, Marchello deLupia, it is clear that the money was being spent, however what is also apparent is that the spending was not limited to the upgrades of the now council chambers of Lido, he has also been funding the capture and sale of young women into prostitution as a means of making himself more wealth," Marcus looked down sadly but continued, "It is also clear that he had been avoiding the taxes from Rabona the entire time and using more taxes as an excuse to make himself more money, rather than Rabona being the cause."
Chloey had her head down the entire meeting. She was well aware that it was as good as true,
"Very well, I will present our findings to the Reine," Chloey said, "I want a finalised report on my desk by the end of the week in all of the findings to date, for now the inquest is officially closed, any questions will be answered in the coming week once everything is finalised,"
The meeting ended and soon Chris was once again home with his wife. She didn't let him carry her like he wanted, and she was still focusing on getting things done rather than let herself rest, even if it was for a little while. Chris wandered back up to her office after an hour and a half and he found her asleep at her desk. He smiled and carefully moved so he didn't wake her. He was lucky that Kate wasn't there, or else the wolf would have growled at him and woke Chloey. Gently he laid her on the bed and loosened her hair so that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable and wake up sooner than she needed to. She rolled over on to her right hand side like always and he carefully closed the curtains dimming the sunlight a little. She needed the rest after all, and he hoped that his Little Lady would get it. He smiled at the thought. The idea of little ones about the house was a good one, even if she objected to it, although she never said that she was against the idea of children now that he actually thought about it. However there was much that needed to be done and Chris quietly decided that a little help couldn't hurt. After all Chloey needed it from time to time and it was one thing that he could do for her. He quietly padded to her office and carefully finished sorting out the papers that she was shifting through. He found a couple of notices that Marchello had clearly ignored and sighed. The man had caused much trouble and Chloey had taken the burden that he'd created for her. Chris made sure that once he'd sorted through the papers that were on her desk, that he stored her quills and ink away. He walked back to their room and surprisingly enough Chloey didn't stir, her breathing was deep and even and Chris lightly settled by her side.
It was to this seemingly peaceful scene that Claire and Meg arrived. Chris looked up and smiled, Meg and Claire both walked in, clearly aware that Chloey had fallen asleep and Claire said softly, "When she wakes, we'll have to tell her what happened,"
Chris looked at them, questioningly, "What Claire?"
Claire grinned, "Oh something exciting apparently, or so we heard,"
Chris raised an eyebrow, "The point Claire,"
Chloey suddenly yawned loudly and stretched, the three fell silent and Chloey sat up looking at them, "Wha…?" she was a little confused and then she panicked slightly until Chris calmed her down, saying that he'd only just come back from putting her in bed as she had fallen asleep at her desk. Chloey tiredly leant into Chris' arms and said nothing. She looked like she was going to fall asleep again, however Chris knew her well enough to know that wasn't going to happen. Once she was awake, there was no sleeping for her. It was a rule of thumb, no matter how tired she was when she woke. Of course this meant that Chloey was more likely to lose her temper as well, so Chris was well versed in how to steer clear of those particularly dangerous waters most of the time.
"Well since she is awake, you might as well spill the beans," Chris sighed,
"We heard that some foreigner arrived at Rabona," Claire grinned, "apparently Miria was planning a trip to Lido that had to be put on hold,"
Chloey sighed of course that had happened, "We should prepare to travel about the region, there is much that needs to be discussed with the other mayors."
Chris winced but knew his wife was right, "We had better prepare then," he sighed, "That means using the carriage this time,"
Chloey raised an eyebrow, but it was clear that she wasn't going to sway him in the slightest. Not that he knew what she hadn't told everyone else. She actually silenced him which made her slightly pleased. She cleared her throat and said, "We'd better get packed then, we have a long trip ahead. We'll need both of you to watch over Lido while we're gone please Meg and Claire,"
Irene happened to appear in the doorway with Ana, the girl looking a little hopeful. Chloey smiled when she saw them both, she was still in the dress from before, her hair half out and then the last of it chose to fall out of the already loose bun, her bangs disappearing into her hair.
"You can count on us Captain," Meg grinned,
A month later and after much arguing between Chloey and Chris on the matter, it was finally announced to the household servants and Meg and Claire that the Little Lady was indeed pregnant as most of the servants had already guessed that she was, particularly Ana, the old human knowing Chloey well enough to recognise the changes in the small warrior. Of course everyone wanted to celebrate, however Chloey pleaded with them not to, especially since she didn't know when she was due to have the baby and she didn't want to say anything until she was absolutely certain as to when the child was due, since that was the first thing that would be asked, and everyone went quiet. The Little Lady did have a very valid point on the matter. She did however reveal that the child was possibly a boy based on the yoki she could sense at the current stage of the pregnancy. For some of the humans it made no sense, but once Claire explained that all of the warriors had yoki and it was essential for them to tell the state of another it made sense to them. Irene had to learn what others had learned before her about the half yoma, and that was the fact that they could "feel" where a comrade was even if they couldn't see that comrade with their eyes. Apparently Meg was doing that all the time. Irene innocently asked how come and Meg pulled her hair off of her face. Two pure white orbs were all that the young woman could see, and it was clear that Meg was never going to see again. It made Irene feel rather sad to see the suffering, even if it was just the surface of damaged that the half yoma had. She realised that Chloey was trying to quietly sneak off without everyone noticing and she excused herself from the others.
Chloey was standing on the terrace that was outside her office. She was wearing a loose dress that she had found some time ago, the warmer weather making it a practical dress, something that Chloey was known for. It was a light blue one that hid the fact that she was pregnant well. The sleeves were short so that the little warrior's forearms were completely visible. It was when Irene walked out that Chloey turned around. Irene could see a scar on the warrior's right arm, it was old but clearly visible in the full moon light. Irene paused as she realised that Chloey's eyes glowed pure silver, her hair almost white in the moonlight. Was this the true nature of the half yoma warriors Irene wondered, to wander the earth and have no colours left to them like the moonlight.
Chloey sighed and turned towards the eastern skies, Sutafu was that way, a place of hell that the little warrior would never forget. It was the place that made her loose her humanity. The place where so many of the people she knew had lost their lives. The small warrior hung her head and Irene came alongside her. Chloey felt a small smile and said softly, "The past always shadows the future, that is the only surety anyone has,"
Irene looked at Chloey realising what the warrior was saying, both were quiet for a time, Chloey sighed and turned back into her office, Irene followed and without realising it, Irene had found her place in the house.