Her Whereabouts

Ivaylo pressed Paetyn even closer to his body. Those eyes in the distance, made him worry but he was sure to protect her at any cost. Carrying her like a bride over the threshold, he was all smiles. At last, he put her down in the tiny entrance hall of their Outskirts apartment.

"Welcome home!" Ivaylo said with a cheerful tone in his voice. They both sat down at the warm Kotatsu table, sipping on green tea. The only difference was, that instead of Ivaylo sitting across from Paetyn, he sat right next to her. The closeness of her warmth made him calmer and ready to have a serious talk. Of course, he wanted to try to build up the conversation to that point.

So first, he needed to know, what happened when he was at the hospital and why Paetyn disappeared without saying anything. Holding her tea with both eyes staring into that greenish steaming liquid...

"As first, the police Beastmen handcuffed me and took me to the station..." Ivaylo didn't know that it was this much serious. "Why did they do that?" Paetyn was not sure about that either. "I guess, they thought, I hurt you because I am a human. I heard, there are cases when the "human maids" turn on their employers..."

It made sense but they had to know right away, a tiny girl could do nothing to a huge Beastman. "I was told, that Rose and your family pressed charges against me but the police at least worked it out. They read your medical report and realized, that in no way I could break your rips. I would have to run you over with a car or so and since you later said, that it was a Beastman they dropped it."

Ivaylo was angry. Why did his family meddle? Paetyn put her hand on his arm. "They love you, so they were worried and wanted to find out who did it. Of course, I would be the first suspect..." Ivaylo was taken aback, when Paetyn took their side. She was very understanding. It made him fall for her even more.

"From the police station, I went to this apartment. I wanted to bring you some clothes to the hospital but I ran into Rose. She asked me, what I was doing here... I told her my intentions and she pushed me to the ground screaming. She said, that from now on, I would be fired and have to disappear from the city or she would "deal" with it in her own way showing her claws. Rose took my keys and grabbed me by the throat throwing me out into the staircase."

Ivaylo's anger was boiling at this point. He hugged her tight making her wince out of pain. Ivaylo was startled. "I just told you..." and she giggled a little. She slightly turned, raising her shirt enough, and showed Ivaylo her other side. A huge bruise was visible on her back but it was already in the bilirubin stage, so almost healed.

Ivaylo was holding back his rage. If he would be alone, he would break something or just put his hand on an alcohol bottle. It's all his fault... "After, I went to the bar because I was scared and hurt. I didn't tell Kay anything because I knew, it was his doing, and I didn't want him to make any more serious mistakes. If he would find out what happened to me, he would fly out of the handle again. I expected already, you would tell the police the perpetrator..."

Ivaylo stroked the top of Paetyns hair. "I told them I didn't see my attacker. Don't worry! Also, he visited me, we talked and he apologized." Ivaylo smiled at Paetyn. She was surprised and glad about that news.

Paetyn got silent for a while. She wasn't sure if she should tell him about the next part. Should she keep it secret? It wouldn't be good in the long run, he will eventually find out. "I planned to go to my grandmother but on the way to the station a black van pulled up and some masked Beastmen jumped out..."

Paetyn raised her eyes to look at Ivaylo's mortified face. What did she just say?! "Luckily they got chased away by some bigger Beastmen, who were accompanying the wife of mister Chairman... your boss. If they wouldn't appear... I don't know where I would be now..."

All this transpired while he was just lying lazily at the hospital. Ivaylo felt so guilty and powerless. He was the cause of all her misfortune. "She took me with her to their gated village just outside the city. I felt safe and she was a very nice person, treating my wounds and telling me, that I could stay there and also get a job.

It was very tempting for me but then the Chairman came and called me by my name. Me and his wife were confused. At first, I got scared and hid behind her but she calmed me down and introduced her husband to me. After I had a long talk with him..."

Paetyn leaned on Ivaylo's shoulder. "He revealed to me, how you were searching for me, about the album in your phone, and that you looked so sad and lost... He said he would like me to go back with him and let me meet you. As you can tell, I agreed."

Ivaylo was overly happy she did. Paetyn turned to him. "We should visit them soon! You will like the wife of the Chairman, she is not only a wonderful person but also very beautiful on the outside!" Ivaylo saw all the admiration for that human in Paetyns eyes.

Since he was indebted to the Chairman, he wanted to meet his wife too. Ivaylo gently wrapped his arm around Paetyns shoulder in a way he wouldn't press against that bruise and he nuzzled his face on the top of her hair with a worrisome look on his face.

It came the time to turn the conversation...