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Only now did I notice how unusual his name was. First and last name... They didn't go together, but separately they sounded melodic.

Quentin.

“I'm researching the species,” Quentin announced, without emotion, looking at both of us.

I struggled not to look away and was glad when he quickly broke eye contact.

“Surprise,” David murmured matter-of-factly, and I looked at him in confusion. “It’s a miracle you haven’t been exposed yet and that the DUIO is covering your projects.” He slid the document back across the table. “What you're doing is risky. However, I already expected we wouldn't be experimenting on a hamster or dealing with human biology.”

I had never heard David say so much at once before.

“That's not all, by a long shot,” Quentin replied with an undertone that seemed tense, if I interpreted it correctly. He scrutinized David with a strange expression. “We will research the genetics of the species.” His fingers were tapping on the tabletop in front of him. “And we will start by collecting blood samples from one male and one female of each species, then isolate and enrich their genetic material, cultivate the cells, and extract their proteins for further experiments.”

I let his words sink in.

He was actually researching the species...

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“There's a problem,” David interjected. “Only three known male Quatura are currently alive worldwide, and you probably don't have blood samples from either of them.”

I thought I spotted a slight smirk on Quentin's lips.

One of his dimples appeared, and something began to stir uncontrollably in my chest. Or was it in my stomach?

“No, David,” Quentin began, without the smirk disappearing. “That's not necessary.” Something flashed in his eyes, but I couldn't tell what it was. “I already have the blood samples of the fourth male Quatura.”

Wait, what?

I narrowed my eyes.

Quentin was no longer looking at David, but at the pneumatic tub on a table next to us, which was filled with water. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Quentin brush something off his finger.

“Which...” David began to ask, but Quentin raised his hand and moved his fingers in a strange way until...

My breath caught as the water in the tub began to swirl. Faster and faster. More and more dynamically. Until the liquid rose and the swirl left the tub like a water tornado.

“No...” I whispered. “No.”

Quentin broke his focus, looked at me, no longer smirking. Then he withdrew his hand, and the water splashed back into the pneumatic tub.

“Surprised?”

He looked between us.

David was silent, obviously confused.

“Did you really think that a human would research the species?” He raised both eyebrows, and the right corner of his mouth turned back up. “That your family would let me work for them for their own financial gain if I were a human?” He looked from David to me. “That I would be in possession of Salma as a human?”

I ignored David’s sidelong glance.

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I was aware that the people who worked at the DLSC had to sign confidentiality agreements and had indeed been introduced to the existence of the supernatural, but not in any particularly significant way, if the DUIO was to be believed.