Morningstar Manor

In the conservatory, Leo sat staring at his notebook. On his hard drive was most of a novel. He had no idea where it had come from, just that it was there, he had obviously written it and it was GOOD. Pity it wasn't finished.

He sighed. "No," he said, "why would anyone DO that?"

#

In the library Amarie sat and watched her new friend shelve some books. "So - a librarian," she said. "Pretty good job for someone who can't talk."

Barbara grinned at her then said, "Sssshhhh!"

#

In the garden Palug had found a warmish spot on the pedestal of the demon statue. He watched the maze - waiting to see if anything small and furry ran out.

#

Keira stood in the lobby waiting for her car and clutching her purse. Final fittings for her costume today, dress rehearsal on Thursday afternoon and evening, and then her first ever performance in the City of Tosca. She shouldn't be nervous - but she was.

#

Del used a skewer to dip a cherry into the dark chocolate and coated it with a twist of his wrist. He eased it off the skwere and put it on the baking parchement to dry then dipped another out of the brandy they had been soaking in for months. Christmas was coming! Time to get ready.

#

Up a ladder Nick painstakingly tightened the lamps in one of the chandeliers. "Try that," he said and Phil snapped the light on. It flickered and snapped back off again. "Bum," Nick said. "I've run out of bulbs. Can you fetch some?" Phil nodded and went.