Leave it to the Serpent people to steal everything, including Jake's parents.

Determined to find them, Jake seeks out his next-door neighbors, the Twin's Ashley and Elijah. Together with Merwin, a mysterious stranger of the Order of Rasputin, they begin a journey of discovery and fear, of a people called the Summer People, and their age-old enemies the mysterious and fearful, sibilant.

"To create peace, the Summer People basically gave up their king," Ashley said. "Put him in shackles and chains, carried him off to the Sibilant homeland, a dark and terrible place with lots of screaming and pain. That's the only way the Sibilant would stop fighting." She leaned in, began whispering. "According to stories, he's still there today, waiting to be freed. Waiting for a hero to be born." Eyes narrowing, "Waiting times such as these."

"Times like these?" Jake asked. What's so special about these times?"

"You," Ash replied, eyes narrowing. She grabbed his hand, "It's you, Jake! He's been waiting all this time for you!"