Rhea had a purplish-red mark on her palm, barely visible but not a birthmark. Alexander, wary of her cunning, kept his distance. "What are you doing?" he asked coldly.

Pursing her lips, Rhea examined the mark. "Showing you my trump card."

"Trump card?"

"This experiment—my proudest achievement," she waved her hand. "My body is the most powerful vessel now. A pity if you killed me." She clicked her tongue, sighing dramatically.

"You're experimenting on yourself?" Alexander was stunned. He'd considered many possibilities, but this surpassed them all. The mark wasn't painted; it resembled a poisonous symbol.

"So what?" Rhea shrugged. "I needed a vessel. Animal or human—we experimented on many in the lab. Why not me?"

Alexander was speechless. He'd thought her cold-blooded, but now…insane.

"Experimentation is paramount," Rhea declared. "Our progress depends on it. How else did civilization advance without repeated trials?" She admired her palm. "Look how pretty. This is a partial manifestation, my body adjusting. It's fun, experiencing and recording the sensations firsthand. It's just too bad…"

Her eyes flickered. "The organization rushed R10's final phase before I completed my experiment. They left the vaccine center in disarray, and I ended up imprisoned."

Alexander asked, "What did you mean, 'best vessel'?"

"Can't tell you. You wouldn't understand," Rhea said. "Know this: I can make a deal with the organization to get Lily back."

"You're willing to die for her?" Alexander surmised.

"No. My body serves a greater purpose; they won't kill me," Rhea said smugly. "It's a pity they only care about Lily, just like you. Why the hell is that?" She couldn't understand. Her family had only cared for Anastasia when she was young; only when Rhea succeeded did Lily appear to overshadow her.