Sorrow

*This page is about the first novel in The Legacy of Sorrow series; for information about Kara's alternate identity, see Kara.*

Sorrow is the first Volume in the series, and has two "versions": the *Legacy* edition and the *Trilogy* Edition. The Trilogy Edition was released in 2017 under hybrid-independent publisher, Pitbull Publishing, and was received well, albeit to a small audience due to lack of marketing budget. Primary sales of the Trilogy Edition were driven through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and were decommissioned in late 2022 to switch over to *Legacy* branding and launch a re-released version of the novel in 2024 with new content, a new publisher (Pathfinder Media Group), and continuity with the newly-expanded *Legacy of Sorrow* universe.

## Synopsis

Kara knows three things better than any other: rage, sorrow, and being a huntress. Being the oldest Vampyre among them, Kara and her makeshift family sculpted a perfect society of her own kind, hidden away from humanity's curious eyes. Her superhuman abilities growing as fast as her blinding fury, the war between free Vampyres and those under the command of her rivals became less an open battle than a silent hunt as the stakes grew higher. With only her Counsel – a group of close friends and family – to keep her in check, Kara’s sanity hangs by a thread as they fight a more modern war than ever.

A human unexpectedly enters her life and Kara finds herself in a position she never expected: in love. Jalix, a respected and decorated former Special Forces officer, becomes unknowingly wrapped up in the rival factions of her war before she introduces him to her way of life. Struggling to find a place in his new home amidst internal conflicts, Jalix joins the war and finds himself at the center of the ages-old conflict. The welfare of humans and Vampyres alike is at risk should evil prevail by gaining full control of the Vampyre Virus. If either race survives to see the end of the war, it will be bloody.

## Storyline (*Legacy Edition*)

Spoilers for *Sorrow* and *Affliction* will be contained in the following section.

The plot of Sorrow begins with an enamored couple, Jalix and Kara, getting ready for the day and getting breakfast together at a coffee shop (the same moments that end the story of Affliction). Jalix doesn't appear to know what Kara does for a living, and is comfortable with their agreement that she be allowed to keep it a secret. Over an unexpected phone call, Jalix is promoted to the CFO of the company he works for and is assigned a press event due only hours later in front of global news stations. After Kara and Jalix depart from the coffee shop to go through their separate days, Jalix's vehicle is brutally decimated by a high speed hit-and-run. Kara returns to his side to stay with him until his press conference is over. During a quiet celebration and Kara's attempted confession at some of her secrets, they are attacked once again by an unknown assailant and Jalix is rescued by Kara's daring driving and her brother's (Valterius) intervention. Kara apologizes to Jalix before Valterius drugs him into unconsciousness.

Jalix awakens in the underground city of Aerael: a civilization of Vampyres under the ruling hand of Kara and several members of her "family." This includes her biological brother Valterius (Val) and his girlfriend Alice, both of whom Jalix recognize from previously meeting them. Introductions are made to several other prominent characters including Krystal, Violet, Jared, Eric, Tony, and others. Kara explains what Vampyres are genetically distinct from humans, a mutation caused by a virus that originated sometime in the 17th century. This mutation gives very few of the older Vampyres supernatural abilities, with Kara's being a form of telekinesis. The first known afflicted was something referred to as the Creature until its intelligence grew and blended in with the human population. This later became known as Robert Schillinger, who Jalix recognizes as an eccentric business mogul his company (Syndicomp, Inc) is aiding. While Kara leaves out the fact that Schillinger and his daughter Raven are known and avowed enemies, she explains that their emerging company (the one Jalix's company just jumped into bed with) is suspected of hiding the enemy faction that seeks to supplant the human race with obedient Vampyres known as the Pyrates. Jalix understands that a conflict between the peaceful Vampyres and the Pyrates is centuries old and that he is now obligated, through his dedication toward Kara, to helping win that war.

Krystal, with her vast fortune from early American industrial investments, anonymously purchases 5% of the company to elicit an invitation from its owners. This is also an attempt to win over Kara's affections through a display of her cunning strategy. The two argue, and Krystal reaffirms her long-held love for Kara while resenting Jalix as Kara's choice of lover. Kara rejects Krystal's feelings outright, citing Jalix as an exception to her lack of emotional attachment and her incompatibility with Krystal in part due to her intense addiction to narcotics. Krystal insists that she is trying to become sober, but Kara rejects the sentiment as another baiting attempt at swaying Kara's feelings.

As Jalix, Kara, Val, and Alice investigate the corporation's headquarters, they are split amongst Kara and Val speaking with Schillinger and Jalix and Alice, who speak with Raven as she gives them a tour of the facility. Jalix's boss is also present to persuade Jalix that he should remain in his position as CFO. Jalix uncovers that Raven Biopharmaceuticals is experimenting with the Vampyre Virus, intending to give it the ability to restore dead brain tissue. Simultaneously, other divisions of the company are working on the technology to digitally replicate synaptic signals and upload or download the memories of an individual. The implication is that the Pyrates would be virtually immortal should these endeavors come to pass. This effort is known as Project Catalyst, and is headed by Raven almost exclusively.

After the meeting, it is revealed by Kara that Schillinger and Raven were both targets of the visit, and a plea for their war's ceasefire was made in vain to Schillinger once more. Feeling betrayed and undervalued, Jalix requests some time to himself in order to think and pack his personal belongings for a permanent move into the city. During that time, Jalix is attacked again by Schillinger's lackey, Kilkovf, and is abducted. Simultaneously, Jalix's boss was killed in an attempt to cover up the exposed information that may have been used as leverage against Raven's company. Kara, Alice, and Val launch a rescue, where they break into a research facility to retrieve Jalix's body, and Valterius is caught in the building as the security measures crumbled it to its foundation. He is presumed dead, and the rest return to Aerael.

During an argument, Krystal instigates Kara and baits her into anger through emotional manipulation by mentioning the people of Aerael, as well as humans, in a derogatory manner. Kara seriously injures Krystal by kicking her into a concrete wall, and after seeing her sister Alice restore her to health, leaves the city in anguish to scour the remains of the research facility for her brother. During Kara's absence, the remainder of the city embarks on a mission to pin Schillinger and Kilkovf while they are exposed and attempt to kill them. At the cost of the plan requiring a public belief that Jalix is now dead, they are successful in killing Schillinger while Kilkovf escapes. Meanwhile, Kara finds that Valterius had managed to escape the building by way of its highly compartmentalized laboratories and the group reunites in Aerael.

The reunion results in Kara and Jalix's wedding, with Valterius proposing to Alice the same night and having their own wedding the following morning. The second ceremony is interrupted with a messenger from Kilkovf and Raven, who explain that they have an innocent family from Aerael held hostage. The messenger commits suicide per his orders and another rescue is launched to save the captive family. During the rescue, Valterius and Jared are brutally murdered by a squad of Pyrates, and Alice kills them in an emotional rage. When Kilkovf kills the family members to prove a point to Kara, including a young girl named Maddie, Kara's powers destroy the surrounding environment before she decapitates Kilkovf. The physical toll from using her powers induces labor, which Jalix never realized occurs so quickly in certain members of the Vampyre population. Despite their best efforts, Kara dies during childbirth after naming her daughter Amelia Lynn Kane, and the group is rescued by Krystal and Violet.

After returning to Aerael, Jalix pursues a mission of vengeance against Raven and corners her in her own company's headquarters building. Before her murder, Raven admits that Kara's remains were gathered to experiment upon, and that she could be saved through the company's new viral strain and the memory-implant technology. As Sonya, Kara's recently-amnestic childhood friend joins the fight, a rescue is mounted and both Kara and Jalix are saved at the cost of Krystal's ultimate sacrifice to ensure the destruction of the facility they were held in. During the epilogue, Krystal's place of death is visited and her sister places a bouquet of flowers upon the ground. After a moment, their petals begin to creep with frost, a sign that Krystal may yet be alive.