The Nevlaks

Warning: contains spoilers.

First appearance: Once Were Mortals

The Nevlaks are a species of Parasitic creature, first appearing in book 6, Once Were Mortals. The Nevlak parasite burrows through the skin, using the bloodstream to "surf" to the host's brain, where it nestles into one of the many crevices and assumes control of the host body by intercepting neurotransmitters with its own unique chemical compounds.

Physiology

Although the parasite prefers to enter its host at the base of the skull, it can in fact enter the body through any convenient skin tissue. It is believed that the parasite uses sharp teeth or pincerlike structures to burrow into the intended host's skin and attach itself to the brain. If the entry point is too far from its intended target, the parasite will simply "surf" the bloodstream to its intended destination, where it crawls into one of the brains many crevices and takes control of the brain by intercepting the host mind's synapses with its own unique chemical fluids. It then creates a hallucinogenic dream state within the host's subconscious mind to make it more docile, hence the nickname "Dream Parasite."

The true physical appearance of the parasite has yet to be recorded, though it is believed to be microscopic, possibly even a single-celled organism. Due to this size, signs of infestation are hard to verify, though former hosts report experiencing "an itching, burning sensation, as though something were attempting to burrow its way through the skin."

Chase and Stacey first encounter the creatures in Once Were Mortals, when they hallucinate a life when they had not encountered each other. Although the creatures were forced to reveal their presence, their personalties, along with their humanoid appearance, is believed to have been nothing more than another hallucination. Indeed, although the creatures relinquished control of their hosts there is no guarantee that the parasites have actually abandoned the host bodies.