A day in the life of Max (Part-I)

Max started writing very fast in his journal. He needed to complete a lot of pending tasks today. The festival started today, which added some extra workload. In addition to that, Arin's friends arrived this morning; obviously, Arin would expect him to accompany them while they go sightseeing. Max wanted to do the best for them.

He picked up his phone while working on his to-do list. He dialled Vee's number and waited until he received the call.

"There are some guests, Arin's friends, which room have you given them?"

Vee chuckled mischievously in response. "The best rooms. If you're calling to check up on them, let me inform you, they have been given the best services available. Also, I have offered them complimentary taxi services. Anything else to add?"

Max felt relieved. In the past, he and Vee wouldn't look eye-to-eye. It was nobody's fault. They were all caught up in the wrong timings and their parents' mistakes. They both had suffered for a very long time, and along the way, they had come closer. So close, that Vee knew without asking what Max wanted or intended to do.

"There are some more check-ins. Would you like to see the details?" Vee asked, the chuckle and mischievous tone were gone now.

"Is there anything that I need to see?" Max usually took an active part in the hotel business. He would go through the guest list, check the menu, keep a track of the administrative section, and attend each meeting with the other board members. Though the hotel looked like a small and cozy b&b with a vintage touch here and there, the hotel had a considerable amount of turnover every year. Max liked to think of it as a silver lining.

"I don't have time today. Maybe at night, I'll come once. I am leaving everything to you for the next couple of days."

"You realise that I am doing everything alone since your man returned. It's like you have been given an honorary designation at the hotel. Do you know how difficult it is to handle everything by myself while keeping your man safe and away from the Pallas family?" Vee sounded tired and annoyed. "Besides, with the beginning of the festival, many boarders will check in. I am going to need extra help."

"Are you done with your moaning and nagging?" Max felt a pang of guilt. Vee was right, since Arin had returned, all Max had done was spend time with him. He knew he had to catch up with everything, and there was a gigantic amount of work waiting for him. It was not that he did not try. He had to put all his effort to stay sane around Arin and work, even though it was excruciating to not touch him, kiss him, or simply talk to him.

"Hire some of the young ones like we did last year," Max suggested and recalled what was it like the previous year. And the year before that. And the many years he had spent doing these same chores before that.

Until Arin came back.

He had been waiting for Arin for such a long time that at some point he forgot a huge chunk of himself. He forgot what his life was like before the ordeal, or how passionate he was about the love of his life. That reminded him, it was his passion that started everything.

He still couldn't get over the sick feeling that he had after the curse was activated. Thinking back, he had been too careless, too frivolous. He shook his head to clear up all the depressing, sickening thoughts.

Vee was still informing him about the preparations for the festival. "The Pallas family has already sponsored the decorations in the Plaza. Today all the stalls will start their work there. Lady Augusta and her new husband Brian have organised the carnival on the northern riverbank. Brian's restaurant chain will have a food festival there."

"I also received the paperwork for a clothing chain. I couldn't recognise the name but the surname looked familiar." Max fished through the pile of papers and files on his desk and found the file he was looking for. A certain Maria Contessina had filled out the form for a special showcase of themed apparel.

"She is the granddaughter of Anastasia Contessina. She returned from Paris last month and has taken the charge of her grandmother's business. They already have the permits, so I didn't make a big deal of it. Shall I send you the file?"

"You already have." Max looked into the file carefully. Every time there was someone new in the town working with them, it became a part of his to-do list to keep the barrier between that person and the old kin intact. Some of the people in the old kin had some specific, peculiar habits, which endangered the secrets of the town. Since this new person was the granddaughter of one of the old kins, Max had little to worry about.

When the town was cursed along with the people who instigated everything, the townspeople started doing the annual ritual. It was a way of dissipating their sins, worshipping the dragons, and begging for their forgiveness. After seven years of worshipping, one night Max had an idea. He invited some merchants and discussed his idea of starting a small carnival during the ten days of rituals. The rituals were already attracting the people of adjacent small towns and villages. The carnival became a popular destination soon.

That night, Max had a dream. He saw David smiling at him. "You're still impressive and remarkable," he said.

"I miss you," Max said crying. "Can you not go? Can you stay with me? It is all very difficult."

"I cannot stay with you. We have different paths to walk on."

That was the last time Max saw David. It seemed to be a dream, but he knew it was more than that.

Max focused on the accounts of the hotel. A faint smile brightened his face. Since Arin had checked in, the hotel had earned thrice of its regular. It was a sign, it had to be. Arin's presence had already started to affect the town. The number of increasing tourists had brought more business.

Something clicked in his mind. He made another call. In his mind, he framed his question cautiously. He could not just ask it directly, but he had to ask it. The man who received the call greeted him with warmth and kindness. "How are you, Max? Is everything going well?"

"Yes, Dr. Morris. I am doing well." Dr. Morris was the great-grandson of the original Dr. Morris who first came to this town after receiving many requests from the Master's family. He was in London at that time, at the peak of his practice and fame. Once he arrived in the town, he became one with these people and another recipient of the curse. After a while, he asked the question that was bothering him.

"I was wondering if our Lady Pallas has come for her check-up and treatment this month. I haven't seen her for a while."

"And you're worried? Don't be, because Lady Pallas came yesterday to see me. Her check-up and treatment went well."

"And her pain? Is it diminishing?" Max wanted to ask whether the wound was closing up, and whether the pain had started to subside. The young doctor seemed to understand what he meant.

"Because he is back, you are now hoping that the curse is dispelling. Honestly, I had the same hopes. Since I heard about him claiming his name, and checking into the Matsre's Inn, I have been a thing of the same possibility. Turns out, I was wrong. The wound is still there, and they are all still suffering. Including my great grandfather."

Max felt his heart breaking. How many years more they would have to wait? These people had been looking ahead to the day when Max's lover returned. Now that he had, they were hoping for a cure, just as he did until a moment back.

'I suppose, there is still something else that you need to do, or probably he needs to do. Great-Grandfather Morris often rambles about his enormous power and generosity. Maybe he is the one who has the key?"

The thought brought a cold shiver down his spine. If what the doctor had thought of, what had crossed his mind during their conversation, then Arin was in grave danger. He said absentmindedly, "He doesn't know how to, he doesn't remember much of it. He is not even aware of his powers. He is just like any other man right now."

"That's concerning!" the doctor responded with a sigh. Max could imagine him frowning. "Then he needs to remember as soon as possible, and you must tell him everything."

"I can't tell him. He has to remember himself, and he has to be willing to break the curse," Max shared with him.

Before he could remember who he was, he needed to be protected from the old kin.