When Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius demotes Legate Gaius Linneus to Centurion and sends him to command an under manned Shadow Legion in Northern Africa, Gaius is determined to win back his honor. Seeking the enemy who sneaks unseen into camp at night and kidnaps legionnaires, he finds instead a deadly creature sacrificing his men to their god Nergal.
Gaius discovers an ancient city carved from solid rock half-buried by shifting sands. When Rashid, who claims to be a Berber salt merchant, arrives just after two more legionnaires disappear, Gaius questions him and learns the name of the ancient city – Hamad Rus, home of the Kashites who once lived East of Eden. Their long-time enemies, the Inyosh, the undead Children of Lilith, had driven the Kashites west into Northern Africa millennia earlier. Casting a spell to destroy the Inyosh, the Kashites had instead changed them into formless wraiths. Now, the Inyosh have awakened, and Roman Legionnaire Gaius and Berber Rashid, whose ancient amulet becomes the only weapon against the dark wraith army, must join forces to save Rome.
