Read Online House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty - Free Book Online Page A

are working together toward discovering the causes of her distress.”
    “Distress?” Morgan scoffed. “Is that what she calls it?”
    Betsy’s fingernails dug deeper into the fabric. “No, that is what I call it.”
    “Well, she’s a spoiled brat,” said Morgan, spitting out the words. Her green eyes narrowed, glinting. “She has been spoiled rotten since the day she was born. I’m sure that the only reason that she is doing this choking thing is to draw more attention to herself.”
    Betsy didn’t respond directly. Instead, she asked, “Morgan, are you staying with Jane and Daisy?”
    The visitor sniffed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right .”
    “Do they even know you’re here?”
    “No. I’m just passing through. I leave this afternoon. My father wanted me to check up on Daisy’s…progress. And to meet you.”
    Morgan fiddled with her starched white collar. Then she dug in the pocket of her suede jacket, producing a white business card from a tooled leather wallet. “Here. This is her dad’s number.”
    “ Her dad?” Betsy asked.
    Morgan glared at her. “He’s her biological father. I am Jane’s daughter from her first marriage. Anyway, he says that if there are any questions or breakthroughs, call him first. Not Jane.”
    “Your mother? You are asking me not to call Jane?”
    “Yes. Call him first.”
    “I’ve never met your father. I have met Jane. She signed the papers and writes the checks. Daisy lives with her, not with her father.”
    “Roger pays you. He’s the one with the money. He can pull her from therapy any time he wants.”
    Betsy turned the card over in her hand. “Tell him to call me. I feel uncomfortable with the situation and I feel I should adhere to protocol.”
    Morgan’s eyes widened. “Protocol? Wait! You can’t tell Jane I’ve been here.”
    “Why?”
    “Just don’t. It will—upset her, and really confuse Daisy. I swear it will.”
    Betsy’s mouth tasted sour. She realized she had taken an instant disliking to this attractive young woman. What was it about Morgan that set her on edge?
    “You understand that I am under no obligation to do anything you say. My only concern is Daisy.”
    Morgan hesitated. The green eyes stared at Betsy, cold and glittering.
    “You don’t like me,” she said slowly. “I can sense that. But I have an important question for you. And it might be helpful for Daisy. I wish you would give me an honest answer—”
    “What is it? If it’s about your sister, the answer is no. I will not discuss her.”
    “No, Dr. Path. You’ve already made that abundantly clear,” said Morgan waving away Betsy’s response. “Just a simple question, nothing to do with Daisy.”
    “Go ahead.”
    “Is it possible to—I don’t know—inherit or borrow a dream from someone?”
    “What are you referring to? I don’t understand the question.”
    “Let’s say someone dreams about—say, vampires. Like my sister does. Is it possible for me, say, to pick up that dream?”
    Betsy said, “What, catch it like a flu?”
    “That’s not what I mean. What if the dream world she has at night is the same as mine. Exactly the same.”
    Betsy studied Morgan’s amber-flecked green eyes and recognized an emotion.
    Fear.
    Betsy hesitated, then nodded.
    “People who are close, or who are connected somehow to similar emotional feelings, can have similar dreams as a manifestation of a burden they share, especially if they are exposed to the very same experience.”
    Morgan shook her head adamantly. “You don’t understand, Dr. Path. What if the nightmare is the same, exactly the same—a castle—identical characters—ghouls with white faces—”
    “You may have heard Daisy describe her dreams and unconsciously picked up the detail and emotion—contaminating, if you will, your own dreams.” Betsy felt as if she had gone too far. She shouldn’t be talking about Daisy even this much.
    “If you will excuse me,” said Betsy, rising from her chair,