Faerie undergoing social change, a Lydian goddess seeking divorce, a detective encountering the supernatural, a man saying goodbye, a woman beginning something new, the anniversary of a passage, a boy discovering himself, a flower's regret, and pioneers in a distant time and place: these stories set in the universe of The Empty World Sequence deal with literal and figurative reflection and the crossing from one stage of life -- or death -- into another. --- Work is rated "Mature" overall but stories in this anthology range in rating and type of content. Please see the safe "Contents" chapter for advisories. --- Cover by author based on an image by Pixabay user "Foundry Co" used under CC0 license.

The Devil's Shadow is a 130K word Theological Dark Fantasy which pays homage to Rice's modern classic Interview with the Vampire in its frame-story construction and retells the story of "Shade" a first-century Egyptian recruited by Nephillim loyal to Lucifer to be their agent on Earth, but whom chooses his own path and plays both sides in their Angelic cold war. Shade's journey through the ages from Egypt to modern America explores themes of love, loyalty, and loss. --- Shade is a vampire, spawn of the Nephillim loyal to Lucifer, and the Devil wants him as his agent on Earth. But Shade rejects him, instead playing both sides in the Angelic cold war. In retaliation, Lucifer threatens to take that which Shade loves most. When Shade encounters two people in New York, one the very image of his late wife, it clear enough to Lucifer who Shade loves, but right or wrong, a rescue mission against the forces of Hell is the only way for Shade to protect the one he truly loves. --- Rated 'M' for drug references and mentions of drug abuse, scenes of sexuality, strong language, supernatural and vampire fantasy violence, and some gun violence. Warning: brief scenes of non-consensual sex, and references to suicide. Complete 5th draft. "Ankh" cover by @AWFrasier See Extras for alternate covers.

The Empty World is a 200K word darkly whimsical Fantasy novel, in the supernatural-protagonist tradition of The Sandman or The Vampire Chronicles, about a young daimon who watches over a muse after 'saving' her with a bottle of vampire blood and how they deal with the vampire who bottled that blood and its corrupting influence on the muse. Their story is a love-letter to Gothic subculture which explores issues of identity, agency, and accountability. [See extras at back of book for alternate pitches, blurbs, and summaries.] --- Rated 'M' for some references to substance abuse and scenes of drug use, a few explicit scenes of sexuality, occasional strong language, and vampire-related blood and violence. Warning: references to attempted suicide and 9/11. EDITING NOTICE: Book 1 of 2 is complete (through Ch 20) and in editing from Draft 2.5 to Draft 3. Book 2 of 2 is posted, but has some narrative gaps and is in editing from Draft 2/Draft 2.5 to Draft 3. NOTE: Draft 3 will be an *estimated* 150K-200K words when complete. SEQUENCE NOTICE: The Empty World was written after The Devil's Shadow, but is a macroquel, encompassing the timeline of the earlier work, and considered the anchor work of the sequence with tie-ins to several other works in its series. "Orchid" cover by author, incorporating illustrated elements used under CC0 license. See Extras at end of work for alternate covers. Playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnT0bS83hioiSA_Vn595PLmt95D7jrWTb

Vampire Dark Fantasy Horror --- Amadeo is a hereditary Witch and heir apparent to the famous Jewel family, but he disdains responsibility for life as a club kid of the Fay scene. After he is attacked by a brood of vampires, Amadeo learns psychic powers are not the only secret in his family. Amad is haunted by a series of reoccurring dreams in which he sees himself drawn ever closer to the dead. As the horrific visions continue, Amadeo fears his ability to make the dark fantasies become reality. --- Rated 'M' for references to drug abuse, vampire-related violence, and scenes of sexuality. SPOILER ALERT: no actual necrophilia is described in this story. This story does not encourage necrophilia. 2nd-ish Draft. A complete draft manuscript exists, more chapters to be posted. Cover by author, based on painting Diana and Endymion by Luca Giordano.

Companion to Karan Seraph's The Empty World Sequence. Guide to world-building details, character profiles, peoples and races, settings and locations. Use of the Table of Contents feature is recommended. Contains SPOILERS.

Vampire Dark Fantasy --- David is a wandering vampire unclaimed by his maker, who must operate in secrecy to avoid conflicts with the ruling Darkling. When he comes near Alexandria, the Capital of the Union of Darkland Nations, David finds the locals already spooked by a series of blood-drained murder victims. As suspicion falls on David, he looks for help from Union sympathizer Louis DeParis and his daughter Claudia, a young woman all but promised to one of the ruling vampires. As they search for the one responsible for the murders, David and Claudia become quickly enamored with each other. A continued relationship will destroy Claudia's hopes of becoming an apprentice in the capital. And, their search leads to figures with influence enough to destroy both their futures and their lives. --- PG-13 Some fantasy and vampire-related violence and some non-explicit sexuality. 2nd Draft

Dark Political Fantasy Intrigue --- The story of a political campaign through multiple perspectives: a candidate caught in a compromising position, a neglected wife, activists moonlighting as masked disco divas, a campaign manager questioning the allegiance of his girlfriend, and a young man who just wants health coverage reform. --- Contains references to sex and mild vampire-related violence Cover by author based on image by Pixabay user "Free-Photos" used under CC0 license.

Epic Futuristic Dark-Fantasy Adventure --- Claudia is a rational existentialist with ties to them. Danjel is a devout Catholic raised to fear them. Everyone has witnessed violence between Humans and Darkling. Europe is at war, with citizens declaring allegiance to the ruling Union of Darkland Nations or the revolutionaries of the so-called Etats Liberté. Danjel and Claudia share a belief that lives are more important than borders, but they do not agree on the tactics they should use or when it may be righteous to stand and fight. Danjel's pacifist preaching combined with Claudia's knowledge of remnant information networks draws a following, even as foreign troops move toward their location. Fleeing conflict, their refugee caravan grows into a tribe: the Goth. The Goth travel war-torn Europe where Danjel and Claudia are viewed as living saints. Forces on both sides of the military conflict are threatened by the potential for Europe to fall under the sway of a single charismatic leader. They will use whatever assets they have to stop the Goth: terrorist squads, the US Army, even Claudia's vampire ex-boyfriend. ----- Rated 'M' for some scenes of sexuality, mild strong language, vampire-related blood and violence, and graphic military battle scenes. Warning: descriptions of terrorism and war. 3rd Draft. Cover by author, based on iStock photo of Regensberg, Germany by Mikhail Markovskiy.

Dark Science-Fantasy Paranormal Romance --- He was born on a battlefield; she was born in a lab. Trepidation is a dhampir, a living, breathing, blood-drinking teen, and tired of following his vampire mother and step-father around the world. Mara is the clone of a witch, raised on a remote ranch, and horrified to find herself pregnant without even knowing a boy. When Trip and his friends save runaway Mara and her brother from the witch-hunting Rowan, staying together is a rational choice. Mara finds in Trepidation a young man more used to being feared than loved. Trip sees Mara someone who understands what it's like to be different. Together, Trepidation, Mara, and their friends must face organizations who would slay witches or vampires, and Mara's creator, who wants her and the baby back! The very idea that a witch and a dhampir could potentially start a family is enough to cast Trip and Mara as the very limit of difference in human eyes: Saints of Evil. --- Rated 'M' for Fantasy and vampire-related violence, occasional strong language, and some scenes of sexuality. Warning: human experimentation. 2nd Draft. Cover by author, based on Dreamstime photo by Xcctfsi.

Dark Space Fantasy --- An international team of explorers lands on Mars, including America's first recognized Vampyre astronaut. When one of their crew goes missing, an investigation leads to signs of previous, unregistered colonization, and manipulation of their team's selection by powers on Earth. With no return window until the next year, and suspicions among the crew, the mission is compromised. When signs of life are found, not only are the lives of the explorers threatened but the existence of a species and the status of an entire planet. --- Rated 'M' for science fiction and vampire-related violence and scenes of sexuality. First Draft. Cover design by author, based on iStock photo by ezhulkov.