Between Light and Dark by Elissa Wilds Page B

held always in check-yet, which simmered beneath
the surface-was sensing the blackness, the underbelly of
the Earth Realm. The demonic energy of Earth's evils was
reaching out to him. It had struggled to touch him and
bring his shadow side to life. The darkness had formed into
some type of entity. He could see it in his mind's eye, all
that evil trying to pummel its way into his midsection. He
knew if it ever succeeded, it would turn him-would take
up residence inside of him and eat away at his light until all
was destroyed, save his darkness. And then what would
happen to Laurell, the child, the coven?
    He had been warned to guard against the pull of the Earth
Realm on his dark side. Darkness wanted only to obliterate
light. And the coveners were filled with light energy.
    Axiom blinked and observed his eyes returning to silver.
His jaw hardened. It matters not, he decided. None within
this camp will ever see my shadow side, and it will not be the
downfall of this mission. He had never lost a battle. He would
not begin now.
    Bright light flashed in front of her closed eyelids and pulled
her to the waking world. Sunlight streamed in through the
window next to her bed. Laurell sat up and yawned. It
seemed as though she'd only just fallen asleep. She burrowed back beneath the covers, hoping to rest a bit longer.
Then her stomach grumbled. Breakfast. She jumped from
the bed and ran to the bathroom. She splashed some water
on her face and took in her red eyes with a grimace.
    There was no clock in her room. Breakfast was probably
already underway. She dug into her backpack and pulled out the baseball cap she'd shoved inside it on her way to the
family mansion so many days before. She slapped it on and
glanced in the mirror again. She looked tired and frumpy.
Good enough, she decided.

    Outside, the crisp air carried a gentle breeze, and bright
rays winked between the trees. A nice change from the rainy
weather of the past weeks.
    Laurell entered the main house and was greeted by silence. She stepped through a living room inhabited only by
statues of Buddha and goddesslike figures, and came to a
dining area.
    The six-seater mahogany table was empty. The distinct
but faded scent of baking bread clung to the air. On the
wall hung a grandfather clock that chimed nine just as Laurell realized she'd missed breakfast. Great.
    "You look hungry." A male voice sounded behind her.
Laurell spun around. An attractive, broad-shouldered man
with thick shoulder-length blond hair leaned against the
wall. He eyed her with interest.
    "Who are you?" she asked.
    The man grinned, pale blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "What? You don't know about me yet? I'm hurt."
    Laurell blinked. "I'm sorry, I-"
    The man's chuckle cut off her apology. "Just teasing. You
are, no doubt, the infamous Laurell. I'm Reese. I'm part of
the coven. Anne and I-" He hesitated. "Well, she was special to me."
    "I'm sorry," she said, feeling his sorrow. Trying to lighten
the moment, she asked, "So you know all about me, huh?"
    He shrugged. "Well, not everything of course, but enough
to know your importance to the mission. And enough to see
that you missed Fiona's breakfast, which never makes our
High Priestess too happy." His warm smile made it clear he
wasn't too worried about the High Priestess's wrath.

    He motioned her to sit. "The pancakes were the first to
go, but I could get you some cereal if you want." He skirted
the dining table toward the kitchen.
    "I don't expect you to wait on me," Laurell responded.
    "Oh, don't worry, I won't. I'm getting myself some too."
He disappeared around the corner and returned balancing a
carton of milk, two bowls, spoons, and a box of cereal. Laurell's stomach growled. Cereal sounded fabulous. She sat at
the table, and Reese slid into the chair next to her.
    "Didn't you get any pancakes either?" she asked.
    "Actually, I did," he said.
    "You're eating again already?"
    Reese rubbed his taut