Page 54 of (Mostly) Human Resources

Despite the gruffness in Opal’s voice, Alexys smiled up at her. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you for your hospitality.”

Opal grunted, her sharp gaze looking past Alexys to where Nic was still rifling through his backpack. “You better hope your luck extends to that one.”

Alexys winced. “Maybe say a prayer for us? Twice lucky feels like tempting fate a bit.”

Opal’s eyes found her own, and the message Alexys had heard when the witch read the bones to her returned. Her dark eyes glittered with ghosts and secrets Alexys could scarcely imagine.

A shiver ran down her spine.

“It’ll take more than prayers, darlin’.” Opal shifted her weight. “Wait here.”

Nic finally stepped up beside Alexys as she watched Opal vanish back into the house.

“Are we ready to go?” he asked.

“Not yet. Opal has something for us, I think.”

Nic checked his watch. “Hopefully it’s not another lecture.” He smiled.

Opal returned a moment later with a glass jar clutched in her hand. She tossed it down from the porch to Alexys who barely managed to catch it.

“What is it?” Alexys was almost too afraid to ask.

“Something to keep you safe, at least from some of the things that’ll want to eat you.”

Alexys swallowed.

How thoughtful.

“Right. Thanks for that,” Nic said sarcastically. With that, Opal waved them farewell and went back into her house. The screen door slammed shut behind her.

Alexys regarded the mason jar in her hand, nearly dropping it when she noticed one of the finger bones inside.

“Is that—”

“Don’t ask,” she swiftly cut him off.

Rotating it gently in her hands, Alexys hoped whatever symbolwascarved into the pale bone was, in fact, a protection spell. She tried not to recoil at the thought of carrying a human finger aroundwith her. But if she had to choose between a demonic spirit and a human finger, she’d have to choose the latter.

“It’s a protection jar.” Nic pointed to the different items behind the glass, pointedly ignoring the bone. “Lavender, rosemary, and what looks to be ash. Probably from her hearth.”

“Great,” Alexys said. She stuffed the jar into the side pocket of her pack. “Let’s hope it works against whatever is waiting for us out there.”

He smirked. “If worse comes to worse, we could always throw it and run.”

She fixed him an unimpressed look. “If that’s your best attempt at survival, we’ll be dead within the first hour.”

“Come on, Keane. Give us a bit more credit than that.” He knocked his shoulder against hers and grinned. “I give us atleasttwo.”

Alexys rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. It would take all of her patience to tolerate him now that they were in this together, but deep down she was relieved she wasn’t having to go it alone. They didn’t need to get along to survive. She could manage until they found Elliot and made it out alive.

“If we last more than two hours, I’ll let you throw the jar just for the hell of it.”

Nic’s eyes lit up. “You’re on.” He clapped his hands together, startling Alexys. “Come along, then,” he called back to her. He’d already set off from the porch, a pep in his step, bounding toward the forest’s edge. Alexys spared a forlorn glance toward her rental car before hurrying after Nic. Shereallyhoped to see it sooner rather than later.

“Keep up, Keane! We have a schedule to keep to.”

Alexys muttered to herself as she crossed the overgrown field and disappeared into the pines.