Prologue
Lyall Lupin was standing in a pool of blood.
12 HOURS BEFORE
“What? Why?”
When he was twenty, fresh out of college and with a slim sum of funds, Lyall moved from Wales to Mexico and began to work at the White Lotus as a clerk. It wasn’t his dream or his ambition, it was just something to get by and pay the bills. And he never really cared much about a ‘perfect career’, so he was pleased with anything. He decided that he would figure out things later, but it hadn’t been necessary.
He fell in love three times.
Firstly, with Mexico. Lyall moved there because he was nauseated of Wales, and cold, and rain showers, and he wanted a shift. His father had a painting hung up in the living room of a stunning beach, and he grew up peeking at it and visualizing himself living there. Even if he was primarily pale and lanky and he burned easily, he didn’t particularly care. And when he landed in Mexico- it was love at first sight, and then again and again in the Riviera Maya where he found a job at the White Lotus.
The second time he fell in love it was with the hotel. It was fancier than anything he could afford, filled with rich and sour guests who didn’t even care to learn his name or to read the tag that hung just above his heart. He never reckoned himself working in a place like that, because growing up he had never been the best at following authorities and being nice, but it was like something had clicked inside of him.
The heat, the beach, the sand, the noise, the night’s breeze, soothing people, making people happy, making children laugh, crafting memories for generations- it was all he needed. Even if he had to wake up earlier than everyone, and go to bed only when the last customer went to their room and honestly… It could be exhausting, and people made him crawl his blood most nights, but at the same time, it gave him a thrill like no other. All he needed was there, in the people and the sun.
There he came across Hope Ramirez, a local girl who was raised a few towns over with a crooked smile and shining ideas, who was also toiling there to round up, and Lyall knew that the best things came in three. They fell in love, so much in love, and she taught him Spanish, and the old owner -an old man called Albus- left them the resort, and that was how they found himself managing it. ‘I’m too old to keep doing this shit’, he told them with a tired smile ‘Take care of it for me’. And they did, together, for twelve years.
It was easier when she was around, and Lyall often found himself recollecting warm memories of her giggle and her kindness, and smiling at them bitterly as if that small movement of lips could cause him such distress in his stomach. They had Remus when they were not so young, and for the first four years, it was perfect.
Maybe Lyall had been wrong, all those years ago, because he fell in love with being a dad just as much as those other three things. Maybe even more. And when Hope died of cancer when Remus was only five- it was a lot, and unbearable, evenings and months made of cries and shrieks and finding a way to coat the pain because he had to go on for his kid. Their kid.
Remus at times was a lot. Lyall believed that losing a mother at that age would do it. Not so young so you can forget it, but not so old to properly process it. A weird time period that shaped him into the man that he was now. But he adored him like no other, even if sometimes they argued to the point where they would ignore each other for days, or if Remus sometimes carried inside of him too much anger and spite and he only coped with sarcasm.
But he was his son, and he was perfect in his eyes. So perfect that he could not help being proud of him, even with all of his problems.
Remus looked a lot like Hope. The exact deeper and darker skin, the same Mexican features, the same bold smirk. When he was a kid, Lyall was happy that he had taken more after his mother, but a hidden portion of him was sad that they were not more alike. Either externally or internally. But growing up, he took Lyall's tall physics, his lanky features, his freckles, and his curls.
Sometimes, looking at him felt like looking into a mirror, other times it felt like looking right at Hope.
“It’s an emergency,” Lyall clarified, knowing that Remus was not going to take it well. And it came off like that, as he furrowed his dark eyebrows and sat up straighter on his mattress. Even if it was dim outside, the scars on his face and his chest reflected the lamp's glow. A product of him and James Potter climbing on a tree not far from there when they were kids.
“And?” There it was, his difficult tone. Like his father, in his youth, he had never been the best at following rules and regimes.
“Three cleaning ladies got sick, the other can’t find a boat, and one is on vacation. I can’t get one for tomorrow soon enough, I just learned it.” He said. “And we have people coming in at 9 tomorrow, can you get up earlier and do it?”
Remus grunted and sealed his eyes, exhaling. He seemed on the point of arguing before he lightly nodded. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
“I’ll go with you.” The black mass of curls murmured, resting just on top of Remus’ pillow, and before he lifted up his head and shot Lyall a cheeky grin. He yawned and sat up next to Remus.
They met nine days before, when Sirius Black began his vacation at the White Lotus with his brother and his cousin. Lyall had no problem with his son being bisexual, he had a problem with that man. And ever since that day when Lyall found them in Remus’ office -just talking, he would like to point out- that getting rid of Sirius had been like getting rid of head lice. He was brash, cheeky, arrogant, rich, and unfortunately exactly Remus’ type. He could not separate them, and he had made an effort, but after only a little bit more than a week they were attached to the hip. No matter how much Lyall frowned upon the kid, if he made his son joyful, he would just accept it. With time, at least, and not without objection.
“No, sir, you are a guest.” Lyall let out.
“Don’t call me sir,” Sirius hushed, before he grinned again. “And I’m currently a guest in your son’s bed, so. I’ll help him.”
“No-“
“And you can’t stop me.”
“I must refute.”
“Then I must insist!”
“Then I’m throwing you out of my hotel-“
”I’m paying to be here!”
Remus raised his hand to stop them, slightly amused and overly mortified. “It’s okay dad, I’ll do it. Alone.”
It’s not that Lyall demanded respect, but it would be nice. When he fell in love with Hope, he had to kiss the ass of her parents for months before they even acknowledged him. And Sirius didn’t even call him by his surname.
And it was not like it was the last day of Sirius’ vacation. It was supposed to be, but he decided to stay for another week or two. And he could afford it.
Lyall was trying to teach Remus about commitment. Sometimes things were difficult, so you had to manage them yourself. Because one day- not soon, but shortly enough- he would be leaving the hotel. Of course he would, and his son needed to be prepared. And he was fortunate enough that it was Remus’ ambition to have it, and to work there, and Lyall knew how lucky he was to have a son that was just as passionate as him about the White Lotus. And he couldn’t wait to share this with him properly.
He smiled at him, appreciating the fact that he cwould do it alone. Remus was almost ready, he just needed a little push.
“Gracias, mijo.”
“De nada papa.”
“I’ll come and wake you up early, like usual?”
“Yes.”
“Sir, goodnight,” Lyall said, maybe spitefully, directed at Sirius who made a weird face. “Noche, mi vida.”
As he got away, he heard Sirius mumbling something about how he was going to help either way, whether he liked it or not. But he didn’t hear what Remus responded.
He was blessed. He had the best son he could ask for. And even if most of the time he didn’t show it properly like he should, he knew that he was.
7 HOURS BEFORE
Lyall was woken up by thunder. Clamorous, shrieking, tearing the sky in the middle of the night.
It was not unusual for the weather to be like that in this period of the year, but he never truly got used to thunderstorms. He would wake up and stay like that, glancing at the ceiling and counting the sheeps, because he didn’t know how to properly rest. Maybe it was old age, or something else, but he couldn’t.
So he walked into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of cold water, and when he did he noticed that the window of Remus’ room was open and all the water was falling into the floor. His son was resting peacefully for the first time in a while, wrapped around Sirius in the middle of the bed, and he couldn’t help grimacing at the scene. He closed the window, gently closed the door, and tried to fall asleep on the top of his covers.
An idea popped into his mind, so he checked to see if it was possible. He would let Remus sleep a little more.
3.5 HOURS BEFORE
When he got up at four-thirty in the morning he started his day the same way he had been doing for the past thirty years, since he commenced to manage the hotel.
He poured his cup of coffee -with too much sugar in it to be considered healthy- into the mug that Remus had made him in elementary school, with the chipped handle and the uneven texture. Even if it was probably a hazard to use, always on the verge of cracking, he felt love when he drank from it. He then put some butter on his toast while he read the newspaper of the previous day, because his hours of work didn’t make it possible for him to keep up with everything that happened in the world, and then he watered the plants that his late wife kept in the kitchen but that he didn’t really know how to take care of.
Lyall was horrible at keeping them alive, and he always had been, but he managed because they were dear to Hope. Every time that he caught a glimpse of them he was immediately taken back to mornings spent in that same kitchen with the love of his life. Mornings that he would never get back.
He didn’t sleep properly, after the thunderstorm. He only managed maybe half an hour, and he was feeling all of his seconds spent away on his skin. It was not going to be an easy day, not with that weather and not with that tiredness that was dragging him down, but he would manage to do it. It was not the first time it happened.
He decided to let Remus sleep in. After all, it was his day off, and he deserved it.
As he exited his apartment that stood inside of the resort, not with the other guests but a little house outside, he rubbed his eyes tiredly and began his walk towards the reception. Outside, it was still dark and cold. It was going to be a long day.
2.5 HOURS BEFORE
At 5:30, Alice Fortescue quietly walked up to the reception with a strange hat and a pair of sunglasses on, as if she was hiding from someone or something. It surely seemed like that, as she glimpsed around kind of in an apprehensive way.
“Good morning.” Lyall put on his stamped smile. In reality, he quite liked Alice, from what little that they spoke together, or with her boyfriend Frank. They were a very good couple in his opinion, and they never failed to greet him in the morning and at night, and they never caused too much dispute.
“Morning,” she didn’t whisper, but she didn’t speak in a normal tone either. Somewhere in the middle.
“Can I help you?”
“I would like to check out, please.”
Lyall peeked at her for a beat too long before eyeing the keys that she dropped on the counter. Again, Alice moved her head across the entrance.
“Sure,” Lyall clicked on the computer to handle it and hummed at the sight. “It seems that you are scheduled to leave late this afternoon. Are you sure you want to go now? You can stay here and enjoy the resort a little bit more. I know the weather is- not the best, but we have incredible massages to offer.”
Alice shook her head. “No, it’s okay. Thank you, but I would like to leave right now. I have a flight booked.”
“As you wish.” He then gave attention to what she said. “Is Mr Longobotgom also checking out?”
Alice said nothing for a while, to the point where Lyall had to look up from the desk and see if the woman was still there. “No, he isn’t.”
“Okay.”
“If that’s not a problem.”
He winked at her. He was not paid to mind the client's business, just to accommodate them. “Not at all. I just need a few seconds to put this down, and then you are free to go. Do you have transport to the airport or would you like for me to book one?”
“Oh, no, I have one.” Alice clicked her nails on the counter in a brisk motion, one at a time. “If… anyone comes here and asks, can you please not tell them anything? About me leaving?”
It was her tone that hit Lyall the most, and then the way that she almost looked heartbroken. Not that he would mind business, they weren’t his own, but at the moment he weirdly wanted to raise a question to her about what had happened. But he didn’t, and he smiled as gently as he could to soothe her.
“I wouldn’t dream of sharing personal information.” He took the keys from the counter. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks.” Alice pressed her lips tightly, nodding fairly. “I appreciate that.”
“It’s my pleasure, and it has been the White Lotus pleasure to have you here for the past ten days.” Lyall extended his hand to shake it. “It would be an honor to have you back in the future.”
Alice reciprocated the shake with a tense hand. “Thank you, Mr. Lupin.”
“Oh, please. I already told you to call me Lyall.”
Alice snorted. “Have a good day. Lyall.”
With that, she took her documents back and smiled once more, and as she seemed to say something else she shook her head and walked away through the hall with Lyall glimpsing at her. He wondered again what was going on, what had happened to make her so skittish and miserable.
2 HOURS BEFORE
Euphemia Potter walked up to Lyall with an uncommon appearance of someone who had not slept the entire night. While he could understand her, it was unusual for her to be like that. Lyall had known her for twenty-five years, and she had never once had a hair not in its place.
“Hi Lyall,” she spoke out softly, weary, bleak, drained of everything.
She was an influential woman and one of the most respected senators in the states. When she wanted, she could demand power with just a glance. But mostly she was caring, and affectionate with her cherished ones. If Euphemia loved you, you were cared for your entire life. “Hi, Euphemia. Are you okay?”
Perhaps Lyall didn’t have the most professional relationship with her or her husband Fleamont, but they were old friends and that was okay. Both Remus and James were attached to the hips whenever the Potters came to have a vacation, and they were best pals, so he could maybe not be as polite as he was with the others.
“Yes, just tired.” She bit her lower lip, unsure of continuing. Again, extremely unusual of her. “Have you seen James?”
“James? Is he missing?” Lyall suddenly grew preoccupied with the situation. If Euphemia was that off, then it meant that it was bad. He considered the kid as his own son, after all. “Have you tried asking Lily?”
Lily was a delight, in his opinion. And James’ wife would surely know where he was.
“It’s complicated.”
That was odd, he noted to himself, but sounded nothing. Euphemia opened and closed her eyes very quickly, fighting back the tears.
“I haven’t seen him since yesterday. We had a fight.” She looked distracted, and Lyall figured that it was fair. If Euphemia did one thing, was love every bit of her son, and it surprised him to learn that they rowed. Never, in more than twenty years of knowing them, he had seen them doing nothing but smiling at each other.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lyall didn’t pretend to make a compassionate smile. Most of the time, when he was dealing with a client, he would put on a mask and faked being interested in their crises, but he didn’t have to do that with the woman. She was his friend, and he could tell that the weight of the fight was crushing her. “I’ll make sure to tell him as soon as I see him, Don’t worry.”
“Is he with Remus, maybe?”
Lyall shook his head. “No, I’m sorry. Remus is sleeping in his room with Sirius. But I can send him a message and ask if they know something.”
“Lyall, you are an angel.” She smiled brightly, letting the whole of her face light up. Just before she made a move to turn on her feet, probably to join Fleamont for breakfast, she turned around and pointed a finger at Lyall’s chest, almost in an accusing manner. “You and Remus are coming to our house for Christmas, right?”
Lyall let his mouth twist in a guilty way. It was unusual for them to skip Christmas at the Potters, and he tried to do his best to find a replacement for that period at the hotel. But Lyall had a secret project, right now, so he leaned closer to the woman and whispered to her. “Oh, I’m not sure. I’m planning on retiring, and I want to train Remus as much as I can.”
“That’s wonderful, I’m sure that it’ll make Remus very happy,” Euphemia said. “But you are making him work too much, he deserves some fun, especially during the holidays!”
“Euphemia-“
“I won’t accept a no.”
Her demanding tone returned, her head tilted a little high to demand respect. He could not say no to her.
“Only if you make the apple pie.”
1.5 HOURS BEFORE
“Hello, Lyall.”
Narcissa Black was as bold and manipulative as her cousin Sirius or her husband Lucius. Regulus -her cousin-, on the other hand, minded his own, and he probably was the best of the bunch. She had a way with words, and with a charming smile, she believed she could do everything she wanted with just a snap of her non-calloused fingers. Lyall had not seen her much in the past ten days, but he knew the type of person that she was. One not to cross.
“Good morning, Mrs. Malfoy.” Lyall closed the blind that he was reading, focusing his attention on the woman in front of him. He tried not to show the surprise on his face because he couldn’t fathom what the woman could want from him. “Can I help you?”
“Yes,” she let out, like in urgency. “Have you seen Alice anywhere? Alice Fortescue? Short, curly hair, about this tall. Always a scolding face on. A little judgy.”
So that was who Alice meant.
Now, he could tell her that he could not share personal information, but that would imply that he knew something. And he had promised Alice that he would keep her secret, and in that moment her apprehensive expression passed through the old man’s mind. She was frightened. Of what, he didn’t know. Maybe the woman in front of him was the cause of such distress.
He hummed for a moment. “I didn’t. I’m sorry.”
“Has she checked out, perhaps?”
Lyall pressed his lips into a thin line. “I’m sorry, I just clocked in.”
“Can’t you check on your machine there?”
Lyall clicked the mouse a few times before he furrowed his eyebrows, ignoring her urgent tone. “The system seems to be down, ma’am. Maybe I can check later, I need to call the technician.”
Narcissa exhaled, probably exhausted and tired, before she nodded. She seemed like she wanted to say something more, maybe curse at him and call him out on the blatant untruth, but she stopped. “Well, if you see her, can you please let me know? Or if you find something?”
“I’ll sure do.”
Narcissa’s stare didn’t falter. She kept her gray, piercing, and uncomfortable eyes to Lyall. “It’s important.”
“I’ll be happy to help.” He let out. “If I see her.”
“Thank you.”
With that, Narcissa went away, stomping towards the patio, probably searching for a girl who wasn’t there anymore.
34 MINUTES BEFORE
“Hi, Lyall!” Lily grinned at the sight of him, her red hair clipped upwards and falling on her freckled face like a cascade. Harry was asleep in her arms, and she was carrying him towards the rooms. He probably fell asleep during breakfast.
Lyall always thought that Lily and James were meant to be. They had a perfect life, and a perfect kid together. He had known James since he was a kid, Lily for a few years, and Harry now that he had just turned four. He just hoped that Remus would be that happy in the future, even if it was with Sirius.
“Hi Lily,” he reached her. “How are you? And the little kid?”
“We are okay, thank you,” Lily said, keeping her voice down so she wouldn’t wake up the child. “I’m just dragging him to the bed, he fell asleep on the table.”
“Like always.”
Lily snorted. “Yeah.”
“Have you seen James?” He matched her tone. “Euphemia was asking about him. She was very worried.”
A mix of expressions passed on Lily’s face: fear, apprehension, wonder, and then understanding. She nodded, keeping Harry’s head with her hand. “I think I know where he could be. I’ll take care of it. Have you seen Remus? I need to talk with him.”
“Oh, I let him sleep in late. He has the day off.” He grimaced. “With Sirius.”
That made the ginger chuckle. “You need to stop. They are cute together.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Sirius is not that bad.” Lily pondered. “Once you get to know him.”
“If you say so.” Not that Lyall had any intention of getting to know him better, let that be clear.
After that, Lily’s phone went off and she struggled to get it out of her pocket without waking Harry up, who still slept unaware of everything in his mother’s arms. Lily looked at the phone, read the message, and then cursed out loud. “Fucking hell. Oh shit- sorry, Lyall.”
“What? Is everything okay?” Now Lyall was on alert.
“Yeah, just- a friend has a… thing.” She put the phone back. “I’ll search for James, okay? If you see Euphemia, tell her to not worry. I’m pretty sure I know where he is. He’ll be annoying her before she even notices it.”
“Okay,” Lyall nodded.
2 MINUTES BEFORE
Lyall heard Barty Crouch Jr. running down the hall before he could see him. His feet were heavy and loud, just as always, but right now there was something else to it that the manager couldn't pin out. Barty kept looking back, apprehensive, and the man noticed the blood on his hands before he could say anything. So much and so red, covering his palms and some of his clothes.
Barty began to work there two years prior, the son of one of his friends back in Wales, and he was more useful for being amusing than for his actual job skills. He could be annoying and off putting at times, but Lyall was fond of him, so he kept the kid around.
“Barty?” He shrieked, waiting for the black-haired kid to say something. Anything. But he had just run up to him and looked at his hands while he painted heavily, shaking like a leaf. “Barty, what is going on?”
A few guests were around, probably trying to exit the hallway, and Lyall felt a few people scream at the sight.
“Lyall,” Barty sounded broken. “I- I- you have to- I don’t-“
So Lyall followed him, wondering what the fuck had happened.
THE MOMENT
The thing was, when he woke up that morning, that was the last thing he thought it would happen. Never, ever in his life would he have imagined being in a scenario like that, and now that it was happening he could do nothing to prevent it.
His job was meant to be perfect.
What hit him first was the smell, pungent and metallic and everywhere in the air. But he walked through it anyway. Then the sight got him.
He stood there silent, in front of a crime scene, petrified. He felt sick.