Sadira, Azul, Bassel, and Carpet flew into the layer. Cassim looked up and greeted them.
Sadira , Bassel, and Azul sat down beside him. As they talked Cassim thought he heard Iago's voice again. He ignored it as best he could. Then he saw an image of Iago's face. A moment later is disappeared!
Cassim shook his head.
"Cassim, are you okay?"
"Yeah. I just thought I saw an image of Iago's face. My eyes are playing tricks on me, again."
"Again?"
"My eyes have played tricks on me hundreds of times before this."
"Cassim." a ghostly voice called.
Cassim, Sadira, Bassel, Azul, and Carpet froze. Cassim's face drained of all color, and fear showed in his eyes!
A man appeared before them! He was a little taller than Cassim, muscular, bald, gray-skinned, and hand three blades on his left hand.
Cassim let out a blood chilling scream of terror! He leaped to his feet, whirled around, and ran. The man persued him.
Cassim climbed to the top of the layer! The man chased him to a ledge that hung out over the sea. Cassim's foot slipped, but he caught the edge with his hands.
The man loomed over him. An evil smile spread across his lips.
"Prepare for a watery grave."
The man smashed Cassim's left hand, causing him to let go with that hand. As he lifted his foot to smash Cassim's right hand, Cassim swung himself up and knocked the man off his feet.
"I'm not going down with out a fight. You should know that, Sa'luk."
Sa'luk got up and smiled evilly.
"I've been waiting a long time for this."