Chapter 81 Tea Towel Cave

Authoress: There are advantages to being a DameEdna in the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, did you know possums? Things such as dancing with the athletes and being trapped for 7 hours with the boys from the choir who were rather yummy. Spent quite a while chasing anyone in a kilt across the MCG and offering my glasses and posing forphotos. Mmm...Scots.And I never have to go to Laverton again! Ever! No more trains! No more Maccs making me sick! No more JB HiFi...wait. That's not so good. Oh well...FREEDOM! and only 10 days tillI move...should probably start packing then...

Erik returned to the lair and headed straight to the Louis-Philippe room to check on Adriana, she wasn't there. The swan bed was empty, as was the opulent bathroom.

"Adriana?" he called, trust that dratted girl to disappear, she was probably in her sewing room, or whirling around on the rooftop in her bare feet.

"In here," a muffled voice answered from the kitchen, Erik entered to find the Theatre Wraith face down in a bowl of hot water and a tea towel draped over her head.

"What on earth are you doing?" Erik asked, trying not to laugh at the odd picture she made. She raised her head and looked up at him through a cloud of steam as the sharp scent of eucalyptus oil filled the room.

"Trying to get my voice back." She replied, speaking for the first time in days without a trace of a blocked nose.

"And steam and eucalyptus are supposed to work?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Always has before," she shrugged, disappearing under the towel again.

"Do you think you'll be well enough for tomorrow night?" Erik asked, dropping into the chair opposite the red checked tea towel.

"Should be," came the muffled reply.

"Good, do you have an outfit ready?" he stretched his arms lazily, noting the steam had sent her hair wavy.

"Yes," a trail of steam curled up from around her neck,

"Where?"

"None of your business Erik, you'll see it tomorrow night."

"May I know the colours?"

"Red and black."

Erik chuckled, "Playing the vampire, are we?"

"Sort of, there's feathers involved too," she peeked up at him, grey eyes glimmering from her tea towel cave dramatically. "The Opera Ghost stalks again tomorrow night, but this time with the Theatre Wraith by his side."

"Yes," Erik smiled, "It promises to be an enjoyable evening."

-quivers her glady (gladioli)- Night possums! -runs off singing "We've made the most of Melbourne"