Page 2 of Wings of Lies (Daughter of the Seven Circles #1)

Tears trailed down my cheeks. I squeeze my lids tighter, screaming at my brain to give me something more. I tried again and again, picking, poking, tearing apart my muddled mind to figure out how I got here and where she went. But there was nothing else.

“Shit!” I yelled.

The ringing in my ears increased. My spine begged to move from the unyielding surface, but all I could do was fling my weakened arm out toward what I assumed was a door. I hissed as the tape holding my IV wrenched against my skin .

“To hell with this!” Gritting my teeth, I took hold of the tape and plastic and yanked it from my skin.

Blood dribbled down my arm, and I applied pressure, holding my hand against the wound for a moment before yanking the rest of my IVs free.

No longer tethered to the tubes, I combed the door’s surface in search of the handle.

Pins and needles swallowed my arm, forcing my hand lower and knocking it into the doorknob.

Relieved, I took a moment to rest my useless limb, and then I twisted.

Locked.

I twisted harder. My sweaty palm shook, sliding against the metal. Metal that didn’t budge an inch.

No. No. No!

Needles prickled beneath my skin.

I heaved my other arm over and twisted with both hands.

Tears rolled off my cheeks. I jiggled the knob until my sobs were wet gasps of air.

“No!” A wild energy shot through me. Shaking, I forced myself up and toward the door. But even with the added strength of my upper body, my fingers could no longer twist.

“Let me out! Someone please! Let me out of here! Help me!” I screamed.

Dots invaded my vision, and sand weighed down my arms. Thump after pitiful thump, I pushed past my weakness and continued to bang on the door. I couldn’t stop. But the stabbing pain rose. The pressure pressed against every inch of my skin like something vicious begged to escape.

“Please!” I cried. “Help me!”

My screams tore through my throat, raw, guttural sounds. Darkness crept at the edges of my vision until a pulse vibrated the air .

Light lit up the tiny, damp room. I grabbed for the door in a frenzy. But the knob didn’t give.

I blinked the tears out of my eyes and gasped.

White flames covered both of my hands.

You always end up in cages, don’t you, Lucille? Except, this one’s your own doing.

That voice… It couldn’t be her, could it? But it sounded like her, only more bitter. The same voice from that dark hellhole I woke from. If it was her, maybe she could actually help me this time.

Stop freaking out and use the power on your hands to get out.

“Why are my hands flaming?”

Because you have powers.

“How?”

She didn’t respond.

“Hello? How is this possible?” I asked, waiting. “Why won’t you answer me?”

I can’t.

“Then why are you in my head? I need help!”

If you want answers, grow up and get out. I’m not allowed to explain.

She sounded so… angry and different from before.

“Answers? Like about my mom?” I asked.

Among others.

“Do you know where she is?”

Silence.

“Please, if you won’t tell me anything else, at least tell me that.”

Elora

“ Where’s Elora? Where am I?”

Not Elora .

“Helpful.”

I don’t want to help you. But I don’t have much choice. You’ll find your answers once you get out of your cage. Escape and remember the names Oliver and Magda. Ask Oliver about Elora, then— She paused. Magda everything else, she rushed out.

“And I’ll find my mom that way?”

You’ll find your answers. But Magda’s answers come at a price. Her voice was fading.

If she knew where my mom was, I’d pay any price.

“Wait, but who’s Oliver? And how am I supposed to escape? The room is locked!” I yelled.

Use your powe…

“Wait!” I yelled, but she never returned.

I looked down at my hands, bringing them closer to my body. They flickered with white flames but weren’t hot. How in the world were they going to help me?

“Can you manifest keys?” I asked. Damn it, I was losing it.

For the sake of trying everything, I put my hand on the doorknob and said, “Unlock.”

It didn’t unlock. So, she was lying. Or, yet again, I was crazy.

“Open,” I said, trying again.

The flames danced around my hand and the cool knob, achieving nothing. No surprise there. Was this even real, or was I hallucinating?

Suddenly, metallic fumes filled the small space, stinging my eyes. I blinked as the doorknob melted into a pool of molten metal, then disintegrated into particles of glowing ash.

I sat there, trembling as the flames sank back into my skin.

This couldn’t be happening .

But I didn’t have time to understand. The door was unlocked. I could escape and find my mom. Once I found her, everything would be back to normal. It’d be okay.

I shifted, letting my legs dangle over the table, and felt a tug in my groin.

Damn it, the catheter. Tensing, I grabbed the tube and slowly dragged it out of my body.

I clenched my teeth. Black specks clouded my vision as it popped out, and the sensation worsened when I attempted to stand.

Numbness shot up my limbs, and I collapsed against the table, blacking out.