Repentance (The Darkness Series Book 4)

Copyright ©2016 Cassia Brightmore

Repentance is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.

All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading and sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

First eBook edition: February 2016

Edited By:
Deliciously Wicked Editing Services

Cover design: © L.J. Anderson at
Mayhem Cover Creations

Cover Model: 
Lance Jones

Photographer:
LJ Photography

Information address:
[email protected]

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

To anyone that has ever fallen from grace.
Finding the will to get back up again takes more strength and courage than one realizes. You are all heroes in my eyes.

Redemption. Acceptance of sins. Regret. All said in the name of reclaiming a lost soul, a life shattered beyond one’s imagination. Once you’ve given in to the darkest temptations, committed unspeakable acts, is there any salvation left? Or are you cursed to forever be marked for those crimes, no matter how good the intentions?

Once you’ve chosen a dark path, one that drags your soul down into the depths of depravity, can love be the shining light that brings you back to the living? Is acceptance enough to absolve you of past transgressions? Or is forgiveness the biggest sin of all?

C
ARRINGTON STONE SET
her paintbrush down in the pallet and took a step back from the easel to survey her work. Nodding in satisfaction, she brushed her hair away from her forehead, groaning when she felt the greasy swipe of paint on her skin.  Looking at her hand, she noticed the kaleidoscope of colors that were likely currently decorating her forehead. 
Stifling a small giggle, she wiped the excess paint off on a rag; her blue eyes raising to once again take in the sight of her newest work.

The mountain scene portrayed on the canvas was exactly how she remembered it from her most recent trip to Colorado.  Visiting her family’s cabin set deep in the woods always brought back fond memories of the time they spent there together during summer and winter holidays.  The bright blues of the sky, lush greens of the treetops and the hint of white snow in the far off mountains perfectly captured the area.  It was definitely one of her favorite pieces to date and would be displayed proudly in her new home once she moved in.

Her thoughts shifted to Michael, her boyfriend of three years. Excitement at finally taking the first big step in building a life together and purchasing their own home
filled her.  In just a few short weeks they would make the transition from boyfriend and girlfriend to a real co-habitant partnership.  Secretly, she hoped he would do something romantic like propose on their first night in the new house; but she knew that was pretty unlikely.  Michael was meticulous to a fault, a fact that often clashed with her free-spirited artistic tendencies, so a surprise proposal wasn’t really his style.  Still, that didn’t keep the hopeless romantic in her
from daydreaming about rose petal bedspreads and a champagne glass disguising a beautiful diamond ring.

Picking up a thin brush, she signed her name in a flourish to the bottom of the painting and took another minute to admire her work.  Completing a piece always gave her a huge sense of accomplishment.  Once the idea took shape in her mind, it was hard to concentrate on anything else until it was given life on one of her
canvases
.  Finished for the moment, she tossed her brush into the waiting cup of water and then picked it up to carry it with her downstairs to the sink. 
Her brushes were an extension of her art, not taking care of them properly was a huge faux pas and not anything she ever let happen.

Millie, her orange and white fluffy cat,
weaved between her legs on the stairs; determined to beat her to the bottom.  “Millie,” she scolded the cat.  “It’s not a race.  You’re going to be sorry if you trip me one of these days and I land on top of you.”

Millie let out an annoyed meow and sashayed away, swishing her tail.  Carrington shook her head at her antics as she stepped into the kitchen and flipped on the light.  The thing about being an artist, inspiration struck at all hours of the day.  In this case, it was two a.m. when she got the urge to bring her creation to life.  Blinking against the florescent glare of the bright kitchen light, she headed to the sink and filled her cup with
fresh
lukewarm water.  Leaving the brushes to soak for a few minutes, she surveyed the small kitchen of the home she was currently renting. It would be
such a wonderful feeling to move into her new home with Michael. She couldn’t wait to purchase new curtains for the kitchen; bedding for their new bedroom set and just put those feminine touches on the place that would make it a home.

Stifling a yawn, she
moved to the coffee maker intent on starting a fresh pot.  Grabbing the glass carafe, she let out a gasp when a loud clatter sounded from the front of the house.  Spinning around, she raised the carafe above her head, intent on heaving it in the direction the noise came from.  Waiting a few
beats, she strained her ears, listening for another sound
.  When there was nothing but silence, she lowered the pot and crept a few feet forward.

“Millie?” she called out.  “Did you knock
something over?” Nerves danced along her
skin as the tiny hairs on the back of her neck sprang to attention.  Her curly brown hair started to stick to her forehead as a light sheen of sweat broke out on her brow.  At the doorway to the kitchen, she leaned forward and stuck her head out, blinking rapidly to adjust to the darkness of the main hall.