Page 32 of (Mostly) Human Resources

“Lovely to earn your acquittance, Nic. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I just so happen to be the resident folklore expert.”

Surprised by their stroke of luck, Nic’s expression changed.

“Really? You must be familiar with the Hollow Walker then?”

“Indeed. I happen to know a bit about the creature, if you have the time to indulge me?”

Nic really didn’t. In fact, he shouldn’t have allowed the man to even sit down, but now that he had, and that he was also in possession of coveted Hollow Walker knowledge, he might as well hear him out.

“I have about twenty minutes,” Nic replied apologetically.

“I won’t take up too much of your time, I assure you.” Silas’s smile was slow and easy. He leaned back in his chair and asked, “Tell me, Nic Dyre, what do you know of the Old Ones?”

CHAPTER 18

“I fear the price will be paid for generations to come, but what other choice have we?”

The Fairchild Grimoire,1590 Entry by Constance Fairchild

The Old Ones.

Nic frowned. The phrase was unfamiliar, and that was a rarity for him. He didn’t delude himself by thinking he kneweverything, but he knew plenty more than everyone else. “I’ve never heard of them.”

“I’m not surprised. Their stories have faded with time, but some are still passed down the old-fashioned way—through oral traditions.” He smiled. “There are two worth noting: the Marrow Witch and the Dark Mother.”

Nic tilted his head. He could have sworn Silas’s eyes were dark brown when he’d sat down, but now they were a dark, ocean blue. There was something cold and cruel lurking inside them.

Silas went on, “Each of these ancient beings has a magic unto themselves. No one knows how they came to possess it, or truly remembers the particulars of it, but they have magic nonetheless. The Dark Mother, for instance, is the mother of all monsters.” Histone was hushed, and Nic found himself drawn in. “Responsible for all the Earth’s most unsavory creatures.”

“Hmm, that so?” Nic suddenly felt he was being taken for a fool. The idea of there being one divine mother monster, was the most baseless, conspiracy theory nonsense he’d heard in a while. Which was saying something, since Hornsby could easily give this man a run for his money.

Aside from spectral beings, the cryptids and monsters they’d discovered over the years were direct evolutions of other creatures that already existed within their ecosystems. Plus, there were plenty of stories and folklore that dated back through the centuries to support these theories. There was no ancient god or goddess responsible for such a thing. But Nic had spent enough time in the bowels of Entity to know that some stories had traces of truth, no matter how outlandish, and Nic was eager to find that sliver of truth here.

“The Dark Mother has the most enviable magic.” Silas paused, seeming to mull over the statement. “Well, to some. I personally disagree.”

“And the Marrow Witch?” Nic indulged him.

Silas’s smile returned. It was a sardonic twist of the lips. “Oh, she envies that magic very much. You see, the Marrow Witch possesses a cruel and bloody magic.Of myself, for myself. ” Silas clicked his tongue and shook his head. “It’s a brutal, sacrificial power that wields unpredictable results.”

Nic decided to challenge him. “That’s fairly vague, is it not? That can apply to a wide range of magics.”

“Of course it can. Protection, concealment …imprisonment,” Silas hissed in a voice so low and filled with such malice that it drew goosebumps along Nic’s neck.

“Right, so …” Nic was desperate to change the conversation now. His eyes flicked down at his watch.

Where are you, Alexys?

“Are these two creatures the only Old Ones, as you call them?”

“No, they aren’t.” Silas tilted his head to the side, considering, then said, “Unfortunately, we won’t have enough time to discuss the rest of them.”

Nic swallowed his disappointment.

How had Silas managed to capture his attention so easily as to make him forget himself? He was far too clever to be baited, and yet … As someone who spent the majority of his time specializing in facts, it was out of character for him to be so easily fooled.

“Well, thank you for telling me,” Nic said. He was keeping an eye out for Alexys when Silas continued speaking.

“Long ago, when the Marrow Witch was most jealous of the Dark Mother’s gift, she decided to, let’s say,borrowthe magic.”