LITS Page 212

“Skaeya,” it rasped.

Jayson cringed, but the voice didn’t shred his ears this time. His pendant thrummed and that was all. Now that he was transformed, these things seemed to radiate a sharp, very distinct, cold emptiness. It was overwhelming, repulsive, and strangely motivating. Vividly, he remembered the first time he’d seen creatures like this, hovering in his own kitchen, but somehow, they were clearer and easier to see here. He glanced over at Ru and found her eyeing him meaningfully.

“Yeah, what?” Randy said.

LITS 211

A moment later, the Skaeya stood ready to face it.

Only now there were ten.

“It’s like all the marshmallows I’ve ever eaten have come back to haunt me,” Randy squeaked.

The red one in the middle had a long pair of tails that twitched eagerly, a snake coiled to spring.