Species Unknown [Book 2: Pisces)

26. CASSIAN

THE CREATURE DIDN'T even flinch as Austin carefully inserted the needle. Austin was diligent, and just like he promised, it didn't seem to hurt the creature at all. It only felt like seconds had passed when Austin withdrew the needle from the creature's arm and stood up.

"This should be enough, and as promised, we are done for today." Austin stated, carefully holding the full syringe of the creature's uniquely blue blood. With that, he gave me one last nod before turning and walking off with the other researcher who had stayed a few steps away.

The tank door closed with a click, and I knew that finally we were alone. I also knew that the tank had cameras, and Hunter was most definitely watching. However, I was certain that there was no audio to these security cameras, and so at the very least, we could finally talk.

After all, I had some questions to ask.

Still holding onto the creature's arm, I peered up into his face. He was still watching the tank door with suspicion, until he noticed my gaze. He shifted his eyes to glance down at me, his face softening as his eyes met mine.

We were so close that my skirt brushed against his tail, making him shift closer.

I remembered the first time I saw his tail, and how shocked I was. But now, it barely phased me. It felt like with each passing day, we were growing closer to each other.

"I'd really like to call you something other than Subject 0017." I spoke finally, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over us.

As expected, the creature's face seemed to harden again, "You may call me what you will." He said simply, taking his eyes off of me to glance back at the tank door.

"How about Cassian?" I suggested, looking up at him expectantly.

The creature turned back to me, raising a brow at me in question.

"One of my mother's best friends was named Cassian. He was a surfer from Turkey, and he volunteered regularly at competitions as a lifeguard. He saved her life once, and they were good friends until he had to leave the island and go back home." I explained, closing my eyes briefly to picture the memory.

All the while, the creature remained silent as he listened, prompting me to continue, "I only met him once, but I remember he too had bright blue eyes, mesmerizing as the ocean itself. Sometimes I think that if he was there that day...maybe my mother would still be here." I murmured, blinking away the tears that had begun to well up in my eyes.

I swallowed, placing a hand on the pearl that hung around my neck.

The creature followed my hand with his eyes, staring at my necklace. Suddenly, another memory came back to me.

A more recent memory of when I had gone out to the ocean at night and met the creature once again among the waves. I remembered how cold he was to me then, and yet, when I returned to the shore, my necklace was there, waiting for me among the sand.

"I know it was you." I said absentmindedly, looking between my necklace and the creature.

He stayed silent, but something flashed in his blue eyes as he tore his gaze from my neck to look at me.

"That night, you left it on the beach for me." I recalled aloud, remembering how my necklace shone in the sand beneath the light of the moon.

The creature's silence was all the confirmation I needed.

I bit my lip. "Why did you save me? All those days ago?" I asked, finally saying the question that had been on my mind ever since that night. I had asked him once before, all that time ago, but he didn't answer.