A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 371: Valentine?

Chapter 371: Valentine?

Lumian, who was confused, grabbed his hand while he touched his forehead with the other.

"What is wrong with you, Valentine? Please tell me, let me get your help—"

"It burns...Lumian. It feels like my insides are in flames. Lumian..." Valentine breathed heavily, his body quivering.

Lumian was beginning to panic. "Is it your heat? Is it your heat, Valentine? I know that it hurts like it can kill you if you do nothing about your heat, so tell me, is it your heat? What is it? Tell me so that I can get help for you. Please say something to me, Valentine!!"

Valentine’s breathing slowed down, and he tightened his grip on Lumian’s hand. "I think... I think I’m dyi—-" He frantically began to cough, covering his mouth as his whole system scorched in agony.

Lumian immediately began to pat his back, wanting to help him. Fear gripped him, having never seen such a situation before. Surely this cannot be just a result of his heat, right? He literally looked as though he could die at any moment.

Valentine’s shoulders rose and fell in rapid breathing, and he removed his hand from his mouth, only to see his palms smeared with a lot of blood, which he had coughed up.

Lumian’s eyes blew wide, and he quickly grabbed his hand. "V-Valentine, what the heck is going on? Why are you coughing so much blood?"

"Are you sick? Wait, what am I even saying? We can’t get sick. Please tell me!" He gripped the weakened Valentine by the shoulder, shaking him. "Please, just tell me! What is going on? Let me help you before it’s too late!"

Valentine slowly raised his head and looked at him with dead, emotionless eyes. "You can’t help me. I’m already...past helping."

"What?" Lumian searched his face, unable to make sense of what he was saying. "What are you saying? What do you mean I can’t help you? You haven’t even told me what the problem is! Why are you saying that you are past helping? Please explain to me, Valentine! Heavens, I’m losing my mind."

Valentine drew a deep breath and rested against the bed for support. "I’m dying...Lumian. It’s only a matter of time."

"Dying?" Lumian’s eyes dilated. "Impossible! You are healthy, Valentine, you are not dying!"

"What is it? Is it blood? Do you need blood? Is the one we get not enough for you? If it isn’t, I can give you mine. You can take my blood if that will help."

"I am sick, Lumian. I don’t know what it is, but I’m suffering from some kind of illness." Valentine smiled with his eyes fixed on the ceiling. His voice was slowly fading away with each word that left his mouth. His vision was also becoming blurry, and he could feel himself slowly drifting out of consciousness.

"Don’t worry...It is not contactable. It is hereditary, and I inherited it from my mother, so you are quite alright. Haha." He chuckled tiredly, shutting his eyes.

Lumian stared at him for a few seconds, trying to process what he was saying. "Does Draven know about this? Does Father know? Valentine, tell—"

Valentine shook his head at him. "Lumian, do me a favor and please keep this a secret. Do not tell anyone about this, especially Draven. Please, I beg you." He exhaled softly, dropping his arm over his stomach.

"No, Valentine, someone has to know. I have to call for help for you. Wait here." Lumian stood up from the floor to leave the room, but Valentine grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

"Tell anyone about this, and I will never forgive you. Not even in life, death, or another life! It stays between us!" His eyes alone were enough to let Lumian understand how serious he was about it.

Lumian painfully bit his lips to the point they began to bleed in order to keep himself under control. He balled his hands into fists and turned around, saying, "Then hold on, let me get a bowl of cold water. You need to cool down."

Valentine let go of his hand and watched him walk into the bathroom. Lumian returned after a few minutes and knelt in front of him. He dipped the white towel into the icy cold water and placed it atop Valentine’s forehead.

He unbuttoned his shirt, took it off, and began to use the wet towel all over him, praying within him that it would help calm his temperature. And luckily for him, it did help. However, it couldn’t do anything to help with Valentine’s system, which felt as if he was set aflame.

"Valentine?" Lumian set the bowl and towel aside. He sat on the floor next to Valentine and threw his head back, resting it against the bed that they were leaning on. "Do you feel much better?"

Valentine nodded. "Thank you..." he mumbled under his breath, and everywhere gradually went silent.

"You know, I really don’t understand what you want me to do. Are you giving up or something? Why won’t you let me tell anyone? We need to get you help or else you won’t survive." Lumian breathed helplessly.

"I don’t know what this illness is, but it is more than serious if it can render you this weak and helpless. You are not a human for goodness sake." He was frustrated. "Please allow me to tell someone. Even if not the father, let me tell Dra—"

Valentine’s head fell onto his shoulder, and only then did Lumian realize that he had fallen unconscious. His breathing was slow and unusual, but he was completely knocked out.

"V-Valentine?" Lumian attempted to look at him. He grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. "I am so useless! I can’t even do anything for you."

He threw a hand over his face, keeping his eyes out of view as he felt himself start to sob slowly.

It’s my fault! It’s all my fault!

Perhaps if he’d done something back then—if he had saved Valentine from his father and protected him like he always wanted to, maybe his situation wouldn’t be this bad and pitiful.