Fox

By Parrisha Martelly

A wind whips through the trees, carrying with it the call of Pandora’s Box. It will choose one victim, as it does every year, and beckon its quarry to open it. He will have one year to find the box. Or die.

Twenty-year-old Fox is heir to the House of Lords, a group dedicated to protecting Pandora’s Box from the chosen who seek to open it. When the new chosen kidnaps her father, Fox rushes to find him.

Joined by her best friend Onyx and the mysterious Falcon, her journey leads her to a strange silver-haired man, the ethereal Fae, and what may be her first, and only, chance at love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Parrisha Martelly
• Release date: Aug 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466042049

Parrisha Martelly

Parrisha Martelly is a college student living in southern California. She is an avid reader of fantasy, paranormal romance, historial romance, and African American fiction. When she is not reading or writing, she is going to concerts or hanging out with friends or family.

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FOX

Parrisha Martelly

Copyright 2011 Parrisha Martelly

Smashwords Edition

AUTHOR'S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

Formatting and layout by Everything Indie

http://www.everything-indie.com

~~

To my mother, Valentine Martelly, whose eyes lit up every time I would mention my book.

AND

To every Crohn’s disease patient everywhere.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

-- Henry David Thoreau

~~

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

About the Author

~~

Chapter One

Though satisfaction would usually sear through him at finally finding his target, Levictious felt none. The circumstances which brought him to the rundown cabin in the desolate tundra were too dreary to elicit that type of emotion. Months of endless searching had finally led him here and, as the wind whipped around him, the only thing he felt was relief. He tugged on his thick, black leather gloves, covering his exposed wrists, before pulling his coat tighter about his body. He turned his attention back to the little home. The thing was clearly a deathtrap, but the secluded shack would have served as an excellent hideout for Smitten.

Smitten had been his informant for years. They were nothing remotely close to friends, but Levictious needed information and Smitten needed money. Their arrangement had been in place for so long that Levictious had gotten used to the convenience. Then, the little vermin had disappeared when Levictious needed him the most. He hadn’t really been surprised. His contact was like that: flighty, irresponsible and, evidently, spiteful.

Before Smitten disappeared, he had alluded to having information about the Magda, information that no one else knew, and information Levictious desperately needed. Though the months of searching had been a minor annoyance, Levictious had found his informant's little hideaway, and that was all that mattered.

He made his way to the front door, his boots sinking deep into the ivory snow. The gusty blizzard ravaged his long raven hair, but the elements did nothing to slow his large, muscular, six-foot-six frame. As he walked, the blizzard seemed to become more violent, as if disturbed by his presence. If he had been a man who believed in signs, he probably would have taken it to mean that he shouldn’t be there. But he didn't believe in signs and, even if he did, it would have changed nothing. It was critical that he get in contact with Smitten. A savage part of Levictious wanted to make Smitten pay for the months he had wasted tracking him down. But revenge just wasn’t his way. 

Levictious stopped just before he made it to the front door of the cabin. He tilted his head, listening for any sounds of life from within. Hearing nothing, he walked around the perimeter of the compound, making sure to keep his body low to the ground and out of sight. It appeared the front door was the only entrance, but Levictious knew better. Smitten would have a secret escape route just for situations like the one in which he would shortly find himself.

Near the left side of the house, Levictious spotted a patch of snow that had given way to a barely visible latch. He squinted and examined it. That latch was just too convenient, and most likely a trap. Even so, he had to admire the man’s cunning. He was the best at his job for a reason.

Levictious continued along the perimeter until he came to the right side of the cabin. Although the snow was thick from the storm, he found a clear indentation where the ground seemed to have been regularly disturbed.

He smiled and lowered himself to the ground before setting to work. He barreled snow out of his way, working at the indentation until he unearthed a small wooden door. He opened it, the creaking combating the sounds of the storm, then went down a flight of steps.

He brushed the snow off of his clothing before walking toward another set of stone steps directly ahead, which led to a small latch attached to the ceiling. Upon seeing the entrance to the cabin, anticipation prodded him up the steps. He pulled the latch, making sure to be as quiet as possible. 

He found himself in a room that only Smitten would have deemed a habitable living space. He looked around in disgust. Piles of trash and scattered parchments cluttered the room. Half-eaten meals crawling with insects lay on the floor. Levictious fingered a stack of parchments resting on what had once been a decent-looking table. The document on top contained a date over three months old.

Levictious looked around the room again, his suspicions aroused. Smitten may not have had the best hygiene or housekeeping skills, but even Levictious had never seen his place this disordered. It looked as though no one had been living there for months. He searched for any sign that someone had been by recently. There wasn’t one. He flung the stack of parchments aside and cursed.

Where was he? Levictious had never had this much trouble locating anyone. Levictious had checked all properties under Smitten’s name, as well as all his other aliases, but had come up with nothing. He ravaged through the living room for clues as to Smitten’s whereabouts, but found nothing helpful. Smitten was a meticulous man and would never leave any details lying around to be usurped by another. That was how he kept his services so invaluable. Smitten’s tendency never to write down anything of importance had always been fine by Levictious. But at this moment, it irritated him. And irritation was not an emotion that greeted Levictious often. He took a deep breath to calm himself. He rarely lost control, but his patience was wearing thin. Time was running out, precious time that neither he nor the House of Lords could afford.

Then, he noticed a door hidden in a corner, the entrance covered by a few pieces of firewood. He assumed the door led to a bedroom. He threw things out of his way, muttering all the while, and turned the knob. Instantly, the smell of death wafted through the air and assaulted his nose. He found Smitten lying on the floor in a pool of dried blood.

Levictious ran a hand over his face. He stood quietly for a minute, taking in the scene before him. Broken glass littered nearly every surface, and pieces of furniture were splayed haphazardly around the room. Signs of a struggle. His eyes found Smitten once more, and he knelt beside his murdered informant. He said a prayer for him in Nardic. Even though Smitten hadn’t been the most honorable man, he certainly didn’t deserve such a gruesome act of violence. No one did.

The wind howled outside, but Levictious’s eyes never left Smitten. He wrestled with the emotions fighting their way to the surface. He felt strange pangs in his chest at the sight of Smitten’s still form, and his brow furrowed in confusion. In what seemed like an eternity ago, he had forced himself to feel very little. He had ignored any emotion that didn’t have to do with his basic needs for survival. Only in recent years, very recent in comparison to the millennia he had lived, had he begun to feel again. Still, he had spent so long feeling nothing, always doing his job in a detached manner that allowed for no emotional attachment, that he still felt at odds with these long-forgotten sensations. Since he had allowed emotion back into his world, things that would usually have received no more than a mere shrug elicited sentiments he didn’t want to acknowledge. Some days, he even had trouble identifying the emotions but, on this day, he recognized the emotion clearly. He felt... sympathy. He had more than enough reasons to hate the man before him, and yet, he felt personally wronged by such a vicious attack against Smitten. He shook his head as if to clear away his thoughts.

Focus, he told himself.

He wrapped Smitten in a blanket. He would be unable to give him a proper burial here in the tundra, but he couldn’t take Smitten back with him through the storm. He would have to leave him there until the weather subsided. That didn’t feel right, but he recognized that his options were limited. He had to do what was necessary, no matter how he felt.

Before he left, he righted a cup, stacked some parchments in a neat pile, and threw away the insect-infested food. It wasn’t much, but it made a difference. He didn’t know why he felt the need to tidy Smitten’s things but, for some reason, doing so was important to him. He cleared his throat at the absurdity of his behavior, embarrassed by his actions, even though he was alone.

To avoid the snow as long as possible, Levictious decided he would take the secret passageway back out. He opened the door hidden beneath the floorboard. When he finally made it to the bottom step of the passageway, he heard a slight movement in the dark. It would have been too faint for a human to hear, but he heard it as though a bell had just sounded. He turned in the direction of the sound, only to find himself face to face with Silver.

Realization dawned on him. Silver had murdered the only person who could possibly reveal the Magda’s identity. Levictious had been so close, only to have his answers wrenched from his grasp. The mild irritation he had felt earlier slowly turned into anger.

Silver stepped forward, a ray of light from the living space above illuminating half of his body. The man’s pale face, marred with a jagged scar that crossed its length diagonally, blended with his glowing silver hair. Silver smiled and opened his arms in mock invitation. Levictious, my old friend! I have been waiting for you. I wondered when you would make an appearance. And now you are here. How I have missed you all these years.

A muscle worked in Levictious’s jaw. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same. These years without you have been nothing short of bliss.

Now, now, Levictious. You do not mean that. We were friends once.

The friendship ended when you tried to kill me.

You never could let go of the past. Silver let out an exaggerated sigh. Besides, I am no longer interested in killing you.

Levictious quirked a brow. No? I find that hard to believe.

My priorities have changed. He stepped closer to Levictious, his face completely drenched in the rays spilling from above. If I killed you, then the location of Pandora’s Box would die with you. I cannot allow that.

Levictious gave a low laugh. Of course, he wanted to know the location of the box. But Levictious would rather die than tell Silver anything that might help him find it. Their conversation was a waste of his time. Time, he reminded himself again, that he didn’t have. Get out of my way, Silver.

Silver moved closer. I am afraid that I cannot do that, Levictious.

With the threat clear, Levictious pulled his coat from his shoulders and tossed it onto the ground. If we’re going to do this, let’s hurry it along so I can get on with my day.

Silver regarded him for a second, then rolled up his sleeves. You always were a cocky one. But when this is all said and done, remember that I gave you a choice, and that you made the wrong one.

Without notice, Silver charged him, his fist making contact with Levictious’s jaw. Levictious grunted and stumbled back, but stayed on his feet. He took only a split second to catch his breath, and then rammed headfirst into Silver’s mid-region. They both went tumbling downward until Levictious was on top of Silver with his hands around Silver’s neck. They stayed like this for a few seconds before Silver managed to knee him in the groin. Levictious hissed in surprise, but ignored the pain. Pain, he could deal with. Dying when he had things to take care of, he could not.

As they circled each other, Levictious analyzed his opponent. They were an equal match physically. Silver was definitely bruised, but had no significant injures. Levictious hadn’t had anyone come after him in ages, but he trained every day. He was glad that he had. He was powerful, but he was not invincible, and he did well not to forget it. The years had made Silver an even more formidable adversary, but the years had done the same for him as well.

Levictious opened his palm, and a bright yellow light appeared above his hand. The electricity cackled, moving furiously in circles and illuminating the passage around them. Silver’s eyes widened but, before he could process what was to come,

Levictious rushed him. The force of Silver’s body hitting the wall shook the foundation of the tiny cabin above them. Silver’s body spasmed as the electricity overtook him, and a guttural cry escaped his lips.

He moved away from Levictious quickly, retreating into the shadows of the passageway. Before Levictious’s palm could produce more electricity, Silver sprang forward and punched him in the gut. Levictious rebounded quickly and hit Silver in the nose, causing him to double over.

Levictious had some slight difficulty breathing, but refused to give Silver any indication of weakness. He rotated his head on his shoulders. I could do this all night, Silver.

Silver laughed softly. He opened his palm, and a silver arrow appeared above it. You forget, Levictious. I have tricks of my own.

Silver definitely had tricks of his own. Dangerous tricks. The arrow disappeared, and Silver lowered his hands. I will only ask you once more, Levictious. Give me the location of Pandora’s Box.

You tell me who the Magda is, and I’ll tell you the location of the box, Levictious said. A trade.

Silver’s eyes hazed with suspicion. You would never tell me the box’s location.

For information on the Magda, I will divulge the box’s location. Levictious spoke the truth. He would definitely tell him the location of a box—just not Pandora’s Box.

Silver contemplated this, then frowned. He wiped the blood dripping from his nose before shaking his head. I am not a fool, Levictious. I know you too well to fall for whatever plot you have in mind.

Silver’s response told Levictious two things. First, whoever the Magda was, he had Silver on a tight leash. Silver had always wanted Pandora’s Box, not to open it, but to possess it as leverage for the things he wanted to accomplish. When one held the ultimate destruction of the world, one could demand a great many things. However, Silver had refused his deal, which meant that the Magda had somehow forced the man into submission. The second thing Silver’s response told him was that Silver was afraid of the Magda. Very afraid. And a man like Silver didn’t scare easily.

Levictious closed the gap between them. Why are you wasting my time?

Silver sighed. For some reason, I hoped that you would tell me the box’s location of your own accord.

That won’t happen, so you might as well crawl back into whatever hole you managed to burrow out of.

Silver gave him a sad smile. Pity. I hoped I would not have to do this.

Then, Levictious felt the stab of a needle. Levictious swatted at his neck, bellowing with rage. The house shook under his yell in chorus with the wind that howled outside and Silver’s soft laugh.

You resort to trickery in one-on-one combat? Levictious hissed.

Silver shrugged. It is who we are, Levictious. You are wrong to fight it. You are too noble. It has been, and will always be, your downfall.

Before Levictious fell to the floor, he punched Silver square in the face, causing him