CHAPTER ONE
I stand on the surface of a calm black ocean, with fiery, angry-looking skies above my head. Six humanoid figures are sprinting toward me, their strange feet making them look like they’re tiptoeing on the water. Their right index fingers sport sword-like claws, and they lack noses and eyes. In general, their heads are pretty lacking—no hair, no ears, just baby-smooth skin and a huge mouth in the middle of where the face would be. And if that weren’t creepy enough, the horror nearest me starts screeching like a cat in heat.
To my shock, I realize it’s saying something.
“You!” the creature is shrieking. “You’re not dead?”
I gape at it. “Why would I be? What are you? How do you know me?”
The creature slices at me with its sword-claw, and I duck to avoid losing my head.
“Stay
