Meet #ARCHETYPE ~ Dr. Travista

Here we are on day 4, and this week wouldn’t be complete without Arthur Travista.

While Travista is a supporting cast member, I really think of him as a main. He’s in the novel so much, and plays such a huge part in everything that happens to Emma. She likes to say that Declan molds her into the woman she becomes, but I think Travista plays a huge part in that as well.

Travista is a genius. That’s all there is to it. He has worked for the Burke family his entire adult life, which makes him and Declan very close. Friends, even. And while Declan may have a say in what happens to Emma during her stay at the hospital (and after, for that matter), in the end, Travista holds all the cards.

 

“It’s time to come clean, Emma; otherwise, I can’t help you.”

I do not need his help.

The thought is automatic, and I do not understand it. But I know from experience that it does not matter. I cannot tell him what is wrong. Even if I wanted to, I cannot. I will never forget the suppression of air in my lungs. How my throat locked. I do not want to feel that again.

Dr. Travista sighs and nods once to someone nearby. I am suddenly surrounded by his nurses. Randall twists my arm and forces a needle into the crook of my elbow.

I jerk in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“What I must,” Dr. Travista says evenly.

Another nurse pastes electrodes to my chest and head. He does not look me in the eyes. None of them do.

“Put the stirrups up,” Dr. Travista orders someone. He snaps a rubber glove over one hand. “May as well run a few extra tests while I’m at it.”

No, I think, but my tongue is too heavy to voice the word aloud. I do not want this to happen.

Cool hands lift my heavy legs as the clink of metal locks into place. I am asleep before the cold metal stirrups fully rest against my bare calves.

There you go!

Don’t forget the ARC giveaway begins Sunday, 9/1.