Watcher in the Darkness, Book 3: Imprisoned

Chapter 23

The short, skinny Asian woman on Michael's porch jumped when I threw open his front door. Dressed in pajamas and a long hooded sweater, her hand was raised to knock again. Her almond eyes widening, she held her black doctor's bag in front of her as she took a step back.

"Father Cooper called and said that he needed my help," she said. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in jail."

She'd never been comfortable around me, and I was okay with that. "It took you fucking long enough to get here."

She blinked at my rudeness. "Dude, the sun just went down."

"An hour and a half ago."

"I got here as fast as I could."

"Did you walk here from Canada?"

"I live on campus, which is over forty-five minutes away. I got Father Cooper's message as soon as I woke up then I came. What more do you want from me?"

I raised my voice to speak over her, which sent jagged pains through my not-yet-fully-healed skull. "I see you had time to put your makeup on first."

Her jaw tightened and I think she would've blushed, if vampires did that. "Okay, you know what? I don't have to take this. I'm missing class to be here."

I stood to the side with a sarcastic bow. "Then, by all means, come in."

She glared at me as she took a step forward, but rebounded off the invisible wall created by Michael's wards. Her fangs grew a bit in annoyance. "You know the owner of the house has to be the one to invite me in. Is Father Cooper even here?"

"I'm here," Michael called from the living room, his voice strained. "Please, Tamryn. You can come in."

She walked past me with a huff, her eyes narrowed and her nose in the air. The short entryway opened into the living room, and she gasped in overdramatized horror when she saw Michael laid out on the couch.

"Oh, my god, Father Cooper." She rushed over, dropping to her knees beside him. She laid her head on his bare chest and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Are you okay? What happened?"

His face grey and drenched with sweat, Michael kissed the top of her head. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course, I came for you." There was an emotional crack in her voice. "After everything you've done for me, how could I not come?"

Michael finally remembered that I was there. "Tobias, I don't know if you remember Tamryn Sagasuki. She—"

"I remember her," I said as I leaned against the wall then crossed my arms. Born American, she'd been studying medicine in China, or maybe Japan, when her progenitor boyfriend had gotten killed. It was some territorial dispute, I think. Anyway, she made her way back to the states, only to be turned away by her human family. The other Disavowed called her Dr. S.

"He remembers me?" Dr. S said as though she and Michael shared a private joke. "Should I be flattered?" She carefully removed the dishtowel over Michael's wound, but the makeshift bandage stuck to his raw skin. Her eyes widened when she realized the bite went all the way to the bone. "Holy shit, who did this to you?" Without a trace of subtlety, she jerked her head in my direction then arched an eyebrow.

Michael shook his head with a tight smile. "It was no one you know. My fingers are burning," he said as he clenched then unclenched his fist.

"That's because whoever put that bandage on you tied it too tight. It cut off the circulation to the rest of your arm."