Page 50 of Tito
“I was also his father’s protector,” Max added.
Tito’s body went stiff and I could feel his muscles were as hard as rocks. Stepping around him, I bravely said, “That’s not possible, Max. You must mean that your father protected his father.”
Max slowly shook his head. “No, Madam. I alone have always protected the Descalia family. He shrugged. “Well, as far back as 1750, I have.”
“Seventeen…” Tito faltered. “So I was right? You aren’t human?”
“Yes and no.”
“Max, you keep saying yes and no,” I told him. “Something either is or isn’t.”
He again smiled at us.
When he did this, Tito and I had to suck our breaths in again. It just seemed to be so terrifying. The man had always worn a non-emotional blank look.
“In 1750, your great, great, great grandfather saved my family,” Max explained. “I’d been injured and he took me to his modest home in Italia.” He shrugged his suited shoulders. “Well, it was actually part of Rome at the time.”
We both stared at him.
“He saved your life?” Tito asked.
Nodding, the butler went on, “Yes, it is a long story, but I have been with the Descalias for over two-hundred and seventy-five years.”
“Ooookkk,” Tito replied with a scoff in his voice.
“I told you that you would not believe me, Si…Tito,” Max reminded him.
“What kind of person lives for like 300 years?” Tito argued.
“Well, it’s kind of a blurred line. See back in 1750, I’m only 35,” Max said. “Then again, I don’t think that I am normal now.”
“You think?” Tito asked as he laughed dryly.
“He’s a genie!” I finally got it as I felt like I won a prize. “Right?” I stared at Max.
“You mean like living in a lamp, granting wishes type genie?” Tito exclaimed.
Max raised his hand up at him. “No. I am a protector.”
“So what can you do?” Tito asked him.
He slowly shook his head. “Not what you would guess. I don’t make a person rich or change their lives with some fantasy fulfilment.”
“Then, what do you do?” I boldly asked him.
“Yes, what have you done for us?” Tito added his question to mine.
“Lately, I have done nothing,” Max answered. “Except keep watch.” He motioned to the monitors. “Most of my existence includes doing lots of that.”
“So what have you done in the past then?” Tito asked. “Specifically for our family?”
“The answers to that might upset you, Tito,” Max warned him.
“Upset me?” Tito snapped back. “Oh no, Max. I am already upset by this. Our butler is actually a genie, who lives in the basement and sleeps in a lit fireplace. All of that is already upsetting, don't ya think? So just tell me.” He growled a bit.
“First of all, I amnota genie. Secondly, I do not sleep in the fireplace. It is a conductor.” He paused and then went on, “In the last two decades, I reanimated your mother and your uncle after they…were killed.”
Tito and I stared at him as we did not move or even blink. The room seemed deathly quiet as I don’t think Tito and I were able to take a breath.
