Chapter 4 4

The rain still hadn't stopped that night.

In a grand, old-fashioned bedroom with tall glass windows, Kenan sat on the floor, trembling, his breath shallow and uneven.

His shirt was soaked-not only from the storm that had drenched him earlier, but also from the cold sweat pouring down his temples. His eyes were red, swollen from tears.

He stared blankly at the marble floor, his lips trembling.

> "Alysa..." his voice was hoarse.

"You can't really hate me..."

His body shuddered violently. A strange pain spread from his chest to every corner of his body-like thousands of needles stabbing from the inside out.

He clutched his chest, coughing hard. A trickle of blood escaped the corner of his lips.

The door burst open. A woman with elegant black hair hurried in-Madam Liora, his mother. The sternness she usually carried had vanished; her face was pale with fear.

> "Kenan!" she cried, running to him.

"Oh God, not again... not now!"

She wrapped her arms around him, guiding him onto the bed.

> "Quickly! Call Doctor Ardan!" she shouted to a servant standing at the doorway.

"Now!"

The servant dashed out. Liora held Kenan's face, her hands trembling.

> "Hold on, my son. The doctor's on his way."

Kenan's eyes fluttered shut. His breathing came in shallow gasps, his skin turning ashen.

> "Mother... I just... want to sleep."

> "No, sweetheart. Don't sleep yet," Liora whispered, gently tapping his cheek.

"Look at me, Kenan. Please, look at me."

But his body kept weakening. Liora's tears fell as she tried to steady her hands.

Moments later, a man in a white coat entered with a medical case.

> "Madam Liora, I came as fast as I could," said Doctor Ardan.

"How is he?"

> "The same as before," Liora replied quickly.

"He's shaking, his breathing is heavy, and his chest hurts."

Doctor Ardan placed a stethoscope on Kenan's chest, checked his pulse, then glanced at the small monitor in his hand. His expression darkened.

> "His energy pressure is dropping rapidly," he said grimly.

"If it falls below the threshold, his entire system could shut down."

> "Do whatever it takes!" Liora pleaded.

"I don't care about the cost-I just want my son alive!"

The doctor exhaled heavily.

> "Madam, you know his condition isn't a normal illness."

Liora's eyes filled with dread.

> "Just say it."

> "The therapy we used before-energy transfer through physical contact with a virgin-remains the only method that can stabilize his energy flow."

The room fell silent. Only the sound of rain echoed against the windows.

Kenan opened his eyes weakly.

> "No... don't do that again," he whispered.

"I don't want to touch anyone."

Liora's eyes glistened.

> "Kenan, it's the only way."

> "No, Mother. I won't. I can't."

He tried to sit up, but his body collapsed back against the pillows.

"I'm not some animal that needs to be healed through something so disgusting..."

Doctor Ardan spoke gently.

> "Young Master, it isn't indecent. The therapy is spiritual-energy from a pure soul can balance the broken core within you."

> "Stop!" Kenan covered his ears.

"Don't say another word!"

Liora shot the doctor a look of apology.

> "Please leave us. I'll talk to him."

Doctor Ardan nodded quietly and left the room, closing the door behind him.

---

Liora sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at her son's weakened form.

His hair clung to his damp forehead, his skin pale as ivory, his eyes distant.

> "Kenan," she said softly, "I know you hate that therapy. But I can't lose you again."

Kenan stared blankly at the ceiling, silent.

> "When your father died, I swore I'd protect you with everything I have," Liora's voice trembled.

"So don't ask me to sit here and watch you die."

> "You don't understand," Kenan murmured.

"Every time we do that therapy, I feel less like myself. Like... my soul is being stolen piece by piece."

> "But it keeps you alive, my son."

> "What's the point of living if I don't even know who I am anymore?"

Liora froze. Tears slipped down her cheeks.

She looked at his face with unbearable love and pain.

> "Do you think I don't feel it too? Every night I'm afraid of hearing that your heart stopped beating. Every time I see blood on your lips, my world collapses."

Kenan looked at her-his eyes softened, but the sorrow in them was deep.

> "I just want to live like a normal person, Mother. Not bound to something so shameful."

Liora wiped her tears away.

> "Sweetheart, the world isn't fair. Some are born with power, others with curses. And you... were born with both."

She rose, took a deep breath, and spoke with quiet resolve.

> "I've made my decision. Doctor Ardan will prepare a girl tonight."

Kenan's eyes widened.

> "What?"

> "She'll be here soon. An anonymous virgin. Her face will be covered-you don't need to know who she is. Just enough to stabilize your body."

Kenan shook his head weakly.

> "No, Mother... please..."

> "This isn't a request, Kenan. It's a mother's decision to save her son."

She grasped his hand tightly.

> "You can hate me all you want-but I won't watch you die."

---

Hours passed. The night grew darker.

The rain had stopped, but the chill in the air remained.

Kenan lay still, staring at the ceiling, his body frail. He closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm inside him-but every thought led back to one name.

Alysa.

Her face haunted him. Her voice, her smile-all of it tore deeper into his soul.

> "Why do I still love you," he whispered faintly,

"after all those cruel words? Why are you still in my heart, even when I want to die?"

The door opened quietly.

Liora entered with a woman cloaked in black, her face hidden behind a thin mask. She was slender, her steps hesitant.

> "Here she is," Liora said softly, trying to hide her unease.

"She's... pure, and willing to help."

Kenan's gaze was unfocused, blurred by weakness.

> "I don't want this..." his voice barely audible.

Liora lowered her head, tears falling once more.

> "Forgive me, my son."

She turned and left, closing the door behind her.

Now only two remained in the dim room:

a broken man and a masked girl standing silently at the edge of the bed.

The air between them felt heavy.

The girl's fingers trembled as she lowered her gaze. She looked as if she wanted to run-but her feet wouldn't move.

Kenan watched her weakly, his breath ragged.

> "Who are you...?" he asked faintly.

She didn't answer. She only met his eyes through the mask-and in that brief, fragile gaze was a sadness as deep as his own.

Kenan exhaled, surrendering.

> "Fine... do what you must."