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    #20 Shades of Gray: Last Act Of Revenge: Pale Horse
    #20 Shades of Gray: Last Act Of Revenge: Pale Horse
    #20 Shades of Gray: Last Act Of Revenge: Pale Horse
    Ebook320 pages4 hours

    #20 Shades of Gray: Last Act Of Revenge: Pale Horse

    By Kristie Lynn Higgins

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    About this ebook

    The Shades Of Gray Series follows the adventures of Kat, a woman with no memory of her past who is called the Pandora Project by those who hunt her, and Kim, a woman leading the life of a legal assassin called a Life Closer. The world they live in is plagued by clouds that prevent the sun from shining down on the land called Dry Clouds, making all who live in Noir forced to live in endless night. Start this series by trying the first two books.

    Kat searches for clues to her past while androids called Un-Men and human bounty hunters try to kill her, and Kim searches for who murdered her mother. The two women's paths collide, and they form a shaky partnership to unravel the mysteries that haunt their lives and they try to protect one another from those who do not wish for them to discover the truth.

    Everyone's soul is marked by a color. Which shade of gray will they hold to?

    #20 Shades of Gray: Last Act Of Revenge: Pale Horse

    Kimberly's craft comes to its conclusion.

    **Shades of Gray Series**

    (STARTING POINT QUADRILOGY)
    #1 Shades of Gray: Noir, City Shrouded By Darkness
    #2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love
    #3 Shades of Gray: Cerberus Versus Pandora
    #4 Shades of Gray: Sisters

    (ZOMBIE TWILIGHT QUADRILOGY)
    #5 Shades of Gray: Night Of The Twilight- The Chimera Strain
    #6 Shades of Gray: Dawn Of The Twilight- Outbreak
    #7 Shades of Gray: Day Of The Twilight- Patient Zero
    #8 Shades of Gray: Land Of The Twilight- Closing of Days

    (MYTHS AND DESPAIR QUADRILOGY)
    #9 Shades of Gray: Rise of the Gorgons
    #10 Shades of Gray: Woe To The Watcher
    #11 Shades of Gray: Woe To The One Who Has Held His Heart's Tongue
    #12 Shades of Gray: Woe To The One Who Thought They Could Only Hurt

    (ASSASSINS GUILD ORIGINS QUADRILOGY)
    #13 Shades of Gray: Creed of the Assassins Guild- Blade of the Dagger
    #14 Shades of Gray: Axiom of the Assassins Guild- Steel of the Dagger
    #15 Shades of Gray: Motto of the Assassins Guild- Hilt of the Dagger
    #16 Shades of Gray: Precept of the Assassins Guild- Edge of the Dagger

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKristie Lynn Higgins
    Release dateFeb 24, 2017
    ISBN9781370593002
    #20 Shades of Gray: Last Act Of Revenge: Pale Horse
    Author

    Kristie Lynn Higgins

    You can also check out my author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/author/kristielynnhiggins

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      Book preview

      #20 Shades of Gray - Kristie Lynn Higgins

      Shades of Gray

      #20

      Last Act Of Revenge:

      Pale Horse

      Kristie Lynn Higgins

      SHADES OF GRAY: Last Act Of Revenge: Pale Horse

      Text Copyright © 2017 by Kristie Lynn Higgins

      Cover Art Copyright © 2017

      Ebook Edition

      Smashwords Edition

      www.KristieLynnHiggins.com

      No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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      You Will Weep

      Where light brightened the day

      now darkness preys.

      Where love stayed the pain

      now love is bane.

      Rushlight, say goodbye.

      Say you will embrace the night.

      No.

      Don't say I didn't try.

      Don't say I gave up the fight.

      Rushlight, the tears you wish to cry

      will one day fall like rain.

      For all the lies they told you,

      for the hurt and the pain.

      Rushlight, you will weep to be so alone.

      Don't you know

      you are marked and

      you may never return home.

      No.

      Don't say I can't go home.

      Don't say I can't change my destiny.

      Rushlight, in the end

      you'll be what I told you,

      you will be.

      No loyal friend will you ever see.

      Now say goodbye,

      say you will fight the urge to cry.

      Say you will embrace the Closing Of Days.

      No.

      I will shed tears.

      I will defy my fate.

      I will find a way.

      Love is the test.

      Then Rushlight,

      these tears you cry

      fall too late.

      They won't take back your lies,

      your folly, your pain.

      You have committed the final sin

      now there is no turning back.

      Love has left you,

      you will find no rest.

      No matter what you say,

      you can't run away from today.

      No.

      You lie.

      I will beat the test.

      No, Rushlight,

      you will fail.

      And you will weep when you face the end alone,

      you are marked,

      you may never return home.

      You are marked,

      you may never return home.

      You are marked,

      you may never return home.

      Translated from the Gathered Works

      'You Will Weep'

      Original Version

      Arcamedes 525 B.D.C.

      Chapter One

      Last Act Of Revenge

      A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

      Proverbs 17:17

      Info on the heart:

      Every day the human heart beats about 100,000 times and sends 2,000 gallons of blood, surging through the body.

      32 A.D.C...

      November 11...

      Thursday...

      10:26 P.M...

      Hellenistic Sector, Dorai Kumo Vicinage...

      Rairakku Estate...

      In the garden as the Arctic Blast slowly moved in...

      Moments before the end of book #19 and Katharine's confession...

      Katharine's view...

      I'm a mess as Kimberly releases me after hugging me, then she grabs my wrists, kneels down before me, and then she starts her heart-felt Forgiveness Speech all over by saying, I'm sorry, and I didn't mean it.

      It was hard enough to hear it the first time. She had finally come to the point of telling me she believes in my innocence, and I have to tell her... I have to confess to... My heart feels like its bleeding inside as I stand there again and let her go on. I should stop her, but I can't find the right words... I can't find the right moment. I want her to be a fault for ever doubting me, but I'm forced to given in to the realization of what I've done and what I've lost.

      I owe you ninety-eight more heart felt apologies, and you will have them just let me get through this second time, Kimberly says, and when she pauses, I feel like I'm going to be ill, I'm going to be ill if I don't stop her, but I can't find my courage as guilt and shame causes me to seize up, and she continues, I had no control over what I did and some outside force influenced me...

      I feel sick and panicked at the same time, and I only want to focus on those two things, but it also hurts me to see her like this. She truly believes in me, and I'm so happy... another emotion I didn't expect to have at a moment like this. Kimberly has faith in me once again, and I can see the friendship we once had appear in the distance near the horizon where there had been nothing but emptiness. She's putting all her effort into this speech. I'm guessing in her head, she can't completely let go of her past... the past that had her believing the worst of me. I can hear in each word that she earnestly wants my forgiveness, but she has to go through all the pleading I had required of her when I believed in my innocence... back when I believed in myself... It would have hurt me to see her go through all of this even if I was still blameless... I guess I was never blameless, I only thought I was blameless. As I stand before her with the knowledge of what I've done, it hurts even more to see her like this, knowing what I have to confess to. I never imagined I'd ever be in this position, but here I am... the culprit of this extremely wicked crime. I'm guilty of a sin I swore up and down that I could never commit, but I did, and now I have to tell the one who I've depended on for so long that I was the one who took her light, stole it from her like some uncaring thief.

      I listen to her speech and become more and more disgusted with myself for letting it go on this long. I should have told her the truth the moment we met again, I should have made her hear me. I did try... I just didn't try hard enough.

      Kimberly's so eager for my forgiveness when I'm so desperate for hers. I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't forgive me and decides to hate me forever. I don't think I could stand that. I think I would just die...

      I continue listening to her till my self-loathing is stronger than my fears, and I decide I can't let her finish, so I interrupt her, No... I shake my head as I try to pull away from her caring grasp, and then I sob, Stop it. Don't say anymore. You need to stop...

      I don't understand, Kimberly tells me as she seems to search my face for an answer. I said everything you ask me to say. Why can't you forgive me?

      I want to confess to my heinous deeds right away, but I don't have the strength. My heart and soul are bawling as I try to gather my courage that's like water through my fingers, that's like a puddle of tears I can't seem to hold in my hands. I don't want to tell her. I never wanted to tell her, and that's why I was running when she first found me. I was going to run away where I would never be found, but she caught me and embraced me, and for some reason at that very moment, I believed everything would be okay.

      I'm not sure I have that same belief now. I'm afraid she'll hate me. I'm afraid she'll never want to see me again. I'm so terrified, but I can't let this go on. I have to tell her... No matter how much it hurts, I have to tell her.

      I finally answer her question as I stop pulling away from her, Because there's nothing to forgive.

      I don't understand. Why are you saying this? Of course you need to forgive me. I...

      No! I shout, so that she will stop saying the words I'm supposed to say. I don't need to forgive you, I tell her as I wrench my wrists from her grasp, not wanting those loving hands that are tenderly holding on to me to turn into hate-filled vise grips once Kimberly learns the truth, and I yell, You need to forgive me!

      She stares at me as if I'm babbling and not making any sense. Kimberly starts to say something to me, but before she has a chance, I blurt my heart-wrenching confession, I did it. I'm the one! I did it! I murdered your mom!

      Kimberly just stares at me blankly, and for a moment, I wonder if I wasn't clear and muddled my words. I decide that I won't repeat them. I decide that I'll pretend I never said them, but then I think that wouldn't be fair to her. I can't keep this from her. Kimberly has a right to know no matter how painful it'll be to say it.

      Did you hear me? I ask her, feeling this horrible pain in my chest as I have to repeat myself, I'm the one who did it. I killed Theresa with my own hands. She still doesn't react to me, so I yell, Say something... Say something, so that I know that you heard me!

      Kimberly looks at me as if I'm playing some demented game with her, and then she starts, Katharine... What are you doing? Why are you saying such cruel things to me? Is this your revenge, is this your revenge for my craft? Are you doing this to get back at me because I had no faith in you?

      I feel as though my whole body has gone white with shock as if I've been frightened nearly to death by her unbelief. I can't comprehend it... She doesn't believe me. I'm telling her the truth, and she thinks I'm lying to her to make her suffer. I don't know what to do... It was hard enough confessing, how do I convince her that I'm not messing with her?

      You saw the video, I tell Kimberly as I relive the first time I saw the Murder Video and the last time after Orthos left me alone with it. I'm still jolted by what was said on it as I tell her, You heard the truth, and finally I have also. You heard, so you know I did it.

      I saw that video days ago, she tells me, starting to get very upset, not that I murdered her mom, but that she thinks I'm lying about it. I'm the one who believed the video, but you told me it was a fake. You told me you could never hurt my mom.

      I did say that, I tell her. But that was then and this is now.

      What has changed? Kimberly demands.

      Haven't you been listening? I heard the video, I reply, growing ever sicker with worry. Kimberly still hasn't reacted, and I'm scared to death how she will finally react once the truth sinks in as I force myself to say, I heard why I murdered your mom.

      Kimberly stands to her feet, then takes a few steps away from me as if she wants to get a better look at me, and then she says, I don't believe you. You're trying to make me suffer before you forgive me. She's angry, but then her face softens as she questions me, Are you going to forgive me for what I did to you? You won't hold this over my head forever, will you?

      I take a few steps toward her and take one of her hands as I tell her, I do forgive you for what you did to me. I forgive you for what you did to Chad, Melissa, and Casper. You were angry with me, and even though I can't understand how you could go so far with your craft of revenge, I do forgive you. What I need from you is... I almost can't say it without sobbing, but I manage to tell her, I want you to forgive me. I want you to tell me that you may not understand how I could kill your mom, but that you do forgive me. I need your forgiveness, Kimberly. I need it more than anything.

      She pulls her hand away from my grasp and peers at me for a long time before she says, I said stop this. Stop trying to confuse me! Katharine, just tell me you forgive me and forget about that other stupid stuff you said in an attempt to make me suffer. Just tell me you forgive me!

      I stand there stumped by her unbelief. Here I am finally pouring out my heart and soul to her, confessing to the most horrible thing, and Kimberly thinks I'm lying. This is all so messed up! How do I convince her that I'm telling her the truth? I have to convince her cause I can't take this any more as an avalanche of emotions surges through my body, crushing everything in its path. I break down and all my grief comes pouring out as I begin to cry.

      Kimberly's view...

      Katharine places her hands over her face and weeps into them like a child. I don't know if I should hug her or strangle her, so I just watch her for a few seconds stunned by what she told me. Why would she say something so horrible to me? Why would she spat such lies at me now? This has to be her way of getting back at me. It has to be that... This is just some ruthless trick of hers.

      I move to her, grab both of Katharine's hands, and jerk them away from her face as I demand, What are you saying?

      I did it! she screeches at me. I killed your mom! I'm the one who needs your forgiveness!

      I start to ask her again why she's saying such lies, but then she starts to explain, I was shown the Murder Video again, not that long ago, and this video had audio, and Kimberly... It was so horrible. I... I couldn't believe what I saw or heard. I really did it. It was me!

      I grab her and shake her as I say, Stop saying all this stupid nonsense. I came here to ask for your forgiveness. Don't tell me you need mine. I won't give it. I don't believe you. You had nothing to do with my mom's death. The Murder Video is a fake, I insist.

      But it's not, she tells me. I watched it, so I should know.

      I saw that video too, but you insisted that it was all a lie. What did you hear that changed your mind? No, don't answer that... I don't want to hear anymore deceitful explanations. You couldn't have murdered my mom. You don't have it in you.

      Katharine's view...

      I reach over, take her gun out of her holster, and move a couple of yards back as I yell, I am telling you the truth! I would never lie about something like this. Do you know how hard it is for me to be admitting to something so atrocious? I murdered your mom. I stole her life from her and over something so childish!

      I don't believe you, Kimberly repeats. You would never do such a thing, not you.

      I would, I shout at her. You saw the video. You heard how your mom goaded me. You heard how she told me that you both hated me.

      Kimberly shakes her head as she states, I don't know what you're talking about. I never...

      Listen to me! I interrupt her. I murdered your mom. I thought I was...

      I stop myself as I realize I can't tell her the reason why I did it. It's clearly on the video, but if Kimberly doesn't remember... It's better that way. She doesn't need to know the reason, and it would be very cruel of me if I did tell her. I fight crying again as I glance at the gun I'm holding, then I aim it at the ground, and pull the trigger three times as I say, I shot her in the heart. I shot her, not by accident, but I intended to kill her. I knew what I was doing. I killed her, so that she wouldn't...

      Kimberly marches over to me and strikes me across the face with the back of her hand and screams, Don't lie to me! What you're saying doesn't make sense. You would never hurt my mom. You loved her.

      I did love her, I still do, but I...

      I stop myself again. I can't tell her the reason. I just can't. I have to hold my tongue and hold this secret to myself. It would do neither of us any good if she finds out.

      You love her. What sort of answer is that? she questions me. You're saying all of this to get back at me. You're trying to confuse me. Well, it's working! Please stop it. Please stop trying to make me believe you hurt my mom.

      I didn't hurt her, I murdered her! I scream back at Kimberly. I can't understand why she won't believe me, all this time she believed the video and now... This is so heart breaking! Why did I have to run into her? Why couldn't I have fled Noir where she couldn't find me?

      I ask her again, Why is it so hard to believe? You heard what she said to me on the video. She only wanted to use me, and she didn't care who got hurt.

      I don't want to hear anymore, Kimberly yells at me. Stop talking! Stop lying! Do you want me to take up my craft again? If you keep talking this way, that is what's going to happen. I'm going to take up my craft and kill you.

      I move over to her, grab her elbow with my free hand, and tell her, I don't want you to take up your craft. I want you to forgive me. I forgave you... Just say that you forgive me. You wanted my forgiveness not moments ago, and I would have given it to you... I do give it to you, I only ask that you now forgive me. I was a child... I didn't understand so many things. Please... Say it! Say it now!

      Kimberly's view...

      I can't believe what Katharine's telling me, and she won't let this go. She's so spiteful to bring my mom back into this. Why does she have to be so brutal? Is this the punishment I deserve for hurting her and her friends? I should just let her finish it, so that we can move past all of this, but something deep within me is starting to tell me she's not messing with me. I try not to listen to that voice, but it won't stop pestering me, but Katharine couldn't have hurt my mom. My Kitty Kat couldn't have done something so awful.

      I decide to play along, and I tell her, I can't say it.

      Why not?she asks as if I just told her the world's going to end and she couldn't do anything about it.

      I can't say it because it wouldn't be true. If you killed my mom, I couldn't forgive you. I would never forgive you. The only thing I would do is hate you.

      Katharine looks at me with this dismay-filled expression on her face as she releases my elbow. Maybe she finally realizes she has gone too far with her own revenge. Maybe she realizes that I'm better at this revenge game, and that I can come back at her three times harder. Good... Maybe then we can get past this stupidness of hers.

      I continue to stare into her face, and I see something else. I see a soul that has been crushed. I see a soul that has lost all hope. Oh no... It's just like that line in that riddle when hope gives way. I somehow made her lose all hope, but how could I have done that? It can't be because I'm not playing her stupid game, then what is it? Is it because I don't believe her? For Ares' sake... Why would that matter? It's just some revenge-filled ploy. Hades... It's almost as if she's telling me the truth, and I won't believe her. No, it's more than that. It's like she's telling me the truth, and I told her that I'd never forgive her, and so Katharine's acting like... but she's not an actress. Oh my Zeus... I told her I'd never forgive her and that would only demolish her hope if it is true, and it would only be true if she really murdered my mom! Is that it? Did Katharine really murder my mom?

      My anger inflames, but I have to keep it in check till I know the real truth, and then I can go all nuclear on her for either lying to me or for taking away... She better be lying to me... I don't want to hear anything else. She better be lying to me... I won't except anything else, so I grab ahold of both of her shoulders and demand, Tell me again you killed my mom! Tell me you're the merciless killer who I witness slay her on the Murder Video.

      Katharine doesn't say anything to me, but peers up at me with this frightened look on her face. The more she stares at me without saying anything, the more I believe she did kill my mom.

      I shake her shoulders and snap her out of it as I yell, Tell me you did it. Tell me now or never bring it up again.

      Her lower lip starts to tremble as she replies, I did it. I'm the one who shot Theresa.

      No... You couldn't have. You're Katharine... You could never hurt my mom. You could never hurt me like this. You couldn't have taken everything away from me.

      I did, she tells me. I'm the one who took everything. Please... Please forgive me. I need you to forgive me.

      I let go of her shoulders, take my gun away from her with ease, and aim it at her as I demand, Tell me again that you murdered my mom.

      I did it, she sobs. I'm the one. Please... just forgive me... We don't have to be friends anymore... just forgive me.

      I turn away from her and run my hands through my hair. This can't be happening. I start to face her again, but I can't look at her right now, so I peer around at the Rairakku Estate. I hear the wind whipping just beyond the walls of the estate. It's already so cold in here. I can't imagine how it is beyond the protection of the stone walls. I look about the garden, the place from my dreams where I saw a grim vision, and then I notice a sign that says this is the Kibo Gardens. I think nothing of the name as I wonder if this is where I'll end our story. Something horrible always happened within my dreams, but each time when I woke I could never remember what happened at the end. I do remember that Arcamedes had spoken to me through my dreams. He told me Katharine had already cost me. Did he know and was referring to her killing my mom?

      I start to face her again, but I'm still not ready. I had finally convinced myself of her innocence, and now... I must face the fact that she... I can't, not yet. I'll stand here a little longer believing I was the one who was in the wrong. I was the one who did the most horrible thing. I'm the one to blame for all of this, not her. Hades... I can't even pretend, all I can do is delay my reaction. I doubted what the Hand had told me about my craft, and I was so close to throwing it all away, so that I could have my friend back. The President told me I would have to decide on one or the other, revenge or our friendship.

      I put a hand to my chest. It hurts so much... It hurts so much that I want it to stop. I really do... I'm tired, cold, hungry... I'm to my breaking point, no, I actually believe I have broke. I'm broken, and I've had enough. I want it all to stop, and I'll do anything to make it stop hurting. I wish Katharine had never come into my life. I wish I had never met my Kitty Kat when I was younger. If only she never existed,

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