"As you are aware, Ms. Baylor, you must submit a genetic sample for everyone who is qualifying with you," Fullerton said. "The genetic sampling done by the Office of House Records is very basic. They ascertain only that you and everyone who is testing with you under prospective House Baylor are related and their familial status matches the one you indicate. In other words, they will test to determine that you and Catalina are sisters and that Bernard is your cousin."
"Do they ever make mistakes?" Catalina asked.
"The OHR is extremely thorough," Fullerton said. "But human error is always possible. That's why all OHR results are also independently verified by a third party, usually one of the genetic archives, which is where I enter the picture. I represent Scroll, Inc., the largest genetic archive in North America. Today I'm here to obtain the genetic samples for the Office of Records; however, I also would like to take this opportunity to present our services to you. The testing we provide is considerably more extensive. We create a comprehensive genetic profile, a snapshot of your family. We test for all known predispositions to genetic diseases. At your request, we can trace the roots of your bloodline. We can also suggest potential partners who would be most likely to produce offspring with the magic talents you specify."
Rogan's specter rose in my mind. We're not compatible, Nevada . . . I wondered how much he really cared about it. Maybe more than he admitted. Brian Sherwood could barely handle that his son wasn't a Prime.
"But it's not a guarantee," I said. "This genetic matching doesn't always produce the . . . the child one wants?"
"Magic is a poorly-understood phenomenon," Fullerton said. "Through our projections, we can greatly increase the likelihood of a child within a particular branch. Mathematically speaking, we have an eighty-seven percent success rate when it comes to predicting what branch of magic the child would fall into-elemental, mental, or arcane. This is a broad statistic. The actual chances depend on the specific match."
"How does this work?" Catalina asked.
"If you choose to employ us, I will collect blood samples. I will transport them to our lab, where your DNA will be analyzed. The results of that analysis are sealed. We cannot be compelled to disclose them even by a court order. You have complete control over the information we will provide. If another House wants to consider you as a prospective match, they may request your profile, which contains basic information. You will be notified, at which point you may accept or reject the request. We won't release anything without your approval. If consent is granted and the other House finds the results intriguing, they may request an in-depth profile. Again, it's up to you to allow it or reject it."
Fullerton paused and leaned forward, his blue eyes focused and clear. "We safeguard your genetic information. If we become aware of any attempt by an unscrupulous agency to collect, analyze, or sell your genetic samples or results of their analysis, we will pursue them with extreme prejudice."
"You will sue them?" Catalina asked.
"We will kill them," Fullerton said.
My sister glanced at me.
"It's standard practice," Cornelius said quietly. "Any of the larger registered agencies will do the same."
"Your privacy is of paramount importance to us," Fullerton said. "We take any attempt at DNA theft very seriously. By law, I'm obligated to provide you with the list of our rivals."
He opened a file in front of him and passed me a piece of paper with a list of companies on it.
"I do hope that you will consider us. As I mentioned, we are the largest archive in North America. We've sequenced over sixty percent of all US Houses, including House Rogan."
Funny how he mentioned that.
"If you are interested in a particular bloodline, we can process your request with greater expediency. If we don't have a profile for a House, we will work with whatever agency has sequenced it, which may add a few days to the processing of the request. We will take care of your House, Ms. Baylor. We pride ourselves on our discretion."
"What if another House wants access to records for reasons other than making a match?" I asked.
"We will forward you their request for approval."
"What if it's a very powerful House?" I asked.
"It doesn't matter," Fullerton said. "All Houses have the same rights, all of them have the same contracts, and all of them pay the same fees. If you are a wounded House with only one Prime or a flourishing House with ten Primes, in our eyes you're equal."