A/N: I am posting this way early because I know how slow the last chapter felt. I wanted to start getting to the good stuff. I hope you enjoy this chapter. As always, I would love for you to read and review. Enjoy!

Chapter 35 – A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

The opera house seemed to be full of life. Everyone on stage and off was more vibrant then previous days. Ever since the masked ball, they all had found new energy and a new reason to continue on. It had been a success. Everyone who had attended agreed that it had been the best gala anyone had seen in Paris.

Christmas was also on its way. Paris was decorated and the ground full of freshly fallen snow. Most would leave for the holiday and return after New Years. Many more would stay behind, finding a way to celebrate in the dormitories of the opera house.

Angelina would be one to stay behind. She would not journey home as her parents wanted her to. Longing to stay behind and keep Rene and Erik company, she sacrificed her parents' happiness for theirs.

They would understand…

It would not be until after the New Year that the opera would be performed. She still had time to improve upon what she lacked. There had been things she felt had not been perfected yet. Monsieur Laurent and Meg had told her several times that she had been as perfect as she could be. Angelina disagreed. She knew that Erik would as well.

"Angelina!"

Completing her pirouette, she turned and faced Rene. He stopped in front of her – out of breath.

"What is it?"

"Monsieur de Wynter has backed out of the funding for the opera house."

"What!"

"I just heard Arnaud talking with his partner. He backed out several days ago."

The news was shocking. What had made Jonathan back out of the funding for the opera?

"But there is a new investor."

"Anyone we know?"

"He is Russian." Rene could not believe the news himself. The Russian had come to Paris to become an investor in an opera house. He had picked the Opera Garnier.

"Russian? Rene, are you mad?"

"I swear it, Angelina. Arnaud is showing him through the opera house as we speak."

Angelina continued to reel from the news of Jonathan. It would correspond with the letters she had received from her parents. He had left home abruptly and without cause. Now he let go of the opera house that he had claimed to love.

"I do not understand."

"Neither do I, Angelina. All I know is that this new investor is not like Monsieur de Wynter. Whatever he seeks, he finds."

"And this, Monsieur Vasilev, is the main stage."

Angelina and Rene stepped off to the side as Rene brought a burly man with him. The dark furs he wore made him look distinguished yet menacing. Gray hair set off his sea blue eyes. They seemed to glow as the light reflected off of them.

"He is the new investor?" Angelina asked Rene barely above a whisper. She did not wish for the investor to hear.

"Yes. He has barely spoken two words since he entered the house."

"We will be performing our newest opera, lead by our very own Madam Giry."

"Your wife?"

Meg stepped along side Arnaud. "Yes, I am his wife."

"And yet you are still called by your maiden name?"

Meg was startled by the statement. "Yes."

"Why?"

"It is to keep my father's memory alive. Nothing more, Monsieur."

"I see."

Angelina and Rene watched as the large man began his tour of the stage. He examined every inch and every nook and cranny. Angelina had never seen a man so precise before. He stopped right in front of Angelina and Rene.

Rene watched as the man did not look at the décor but at Angelina. His gaze lingered over her body and seemed to want to invite her in.

Arnaud, noticing that he was not moving, moved along side the new investor.

"Monsieur Vasilev, I would like to introduce Rene DuBois – our leading tenor singer. And our lead dancer and singer – Angelina de Chagny. This is our new investor – Mikhail Vasilev."

Rene watched as Mikhail took a hold of Angelina's hand and kissed the back of it. Trying not to show how repulsed she was, she showed a polite smile and retracted her hand quickly. His gaze still did not leave her body. Rene, suddenly feeling the need to protect her, snaked his arm around Angelina's waist and brought her closer to him.

"They will be performing along side one another in the new opera after the New Year."

"I want to see a demonstration."

"Pardon?"

"This new opera that you keep telling me about…I wish to see a part of it."

Arnaud and Meg looked at one another. Meg, nodding her head, gestured to both Rene and Angelina.

Rene continued to watch as Mikhail's gaze never left Angelina's. Looking at Angelina, he leaned in close.

"Are you alright?"

Angelina could not find the words. Mikhail had made her feel small and insignificant. She did not like the way he looked at her or touched her. Her heart raced as the music slowly started.

Mikhail began to circle the stage. He now had one solitary purpose for funding the opera: Angelina de Chagny. She was remarkable and beautiful. Her slender frame and milky skin enticed him beyond anything else ever had. DuBois seemed to be overprotective but that could be remedied without provocation.

Arnaud slowly walked up to Mikhail, noticing how he was looking at Angelina. "Monsieur?"

"I wish to see more, Monsieur Bellmonte. A solo by the young girl."

Arnaud swallowed hard and looked over at Meg. Meg hesitated for a brief second before gesturing to Rene to leave the stage. Doing as commanded, Rene moved off to the side but still close enough to reach Angelina if needed.

Shaking with fear, Angelina took the stage and the solo that Mikhail had requested. She continued around the stage, ignoring the stares from him. Losing her balance, she began to fall…

Mikhail quickly rushed to her side and captured Angelina in his arms. Rene began to step forward but quickly stopped after receiving a glare that only Erik could have rivaled.

"Are you alright, my dear?"

"Perfectly fine, Monsieur. If you could put me down onto the stage…"

Taking the amble opportunity, Mikhail continued to hold her – knowing that the young girl would not be able to protest. His fingers began to caress her back gently, making her squirm.

Finally leaving his grasp, Angelina's feet touched the ground. She scurried away from him and into Rene's arms. Meg quickly rushed over to the pair – making sure that she was not harmed in any way.

Arnaud, once again, walked over to Mikhail. Although his frame was large, it would not stop Arnaud from protecting Angelina. She was as much a daughter to him as she was to Raoul. He loved her and would protect her if he had to.

"Have you seen enough, Monsieur?"

"I have. I do wish to see more: tomorrow morning."

"I am sure my wife's dancers would be happy to…"

"Angelina will be performing for me. I will have no one else."

"Monsieur…"

"There will be no debates. Tomorrow morning she will perform once again so that I might examine your leading singer and dancer."

Without any other words, Arnaud and Meg watched as Mikhail left the stage. Angelina trembled in Rene's arms. She would have to perform for the man once again.

"Please, Rene, do not make me do that."

"Everything will be alright. You will see."

The organ bench was empty and no music filled the air. Rene became troubled as he descended the staircase. Usually, Erik was sitting at the organ, playing a piece from his newest opera. Today was an exception.

"Erik!"

There was no answer.

"Erik, I must speak with you!"

Again, no answer.

"It is about Angelina…"

The curtain, off to the side, pulled back. Erik, dressed only in a pair of black pants, emerged. The look on his face was full of concern for Angelina.

"What happened?"

"There is a new financier – a Mikhail Vasilev."

"Russian?"

"Yes."

"What does he have to do with Angelina?"

"He fancies her, Erik."

Rene watched as anger grew in Erik's eyes. His master was in love with Angelina. He knew that Erik was the right man to go to.

"How do you know this?"

"He gazed upon her as if she were his prized possession."

Erik began toward Rene. His blood was boiling. Although Angelina was not his, he felt as though he needed to protect her. Monsieur Vasilev seemed to have intentions beyond that of a financier. It would not be tolerated.

"I want to know everything. Leave no detail out."

Rene watched anger pass over Erik's eyes. It made him shiver that his master could become so angry in one moment but yet so passionate in the next.

It is Angelina that does it to him…

"Everything, Rene…"

"Angelina fell and he caught her. I saw her look, Erik. His fingers glided up and down her back…

His back tensed. All Erik saw was red. It blinded him almost to the point where he would need to take his anger out on something or someone. Turning away from Rene, he let his emotions slowly come to pass. He had not felt such anger since the Vicomte and even then it had not been in such a fashion.

"She has been requested to dance tomorrow morning in a solo for his behalf. Monsieur Bellmonte could not refuse. Monsieur Vasilev would not take no for an answer."

"And how did Angelina react?"

"She shook in my arms. She is frightened of the man."

"As she should be." Erik finally turned to Rene. He could see the fear in his eyes as well. "Does he trouble you as well?"

"His intentions do."

"Will you attend tomorrow morning?"

"Yes. But he will not allow me on stage."

"If he will not allow you on stage, there is no point of you attending." He needed to protect Angelina, to make sure she remained unharmed. Thoughts filled his head. Erik knew he would have to find a way on stage. "I will handle it."

"Erik…please do not tell her I told you. She is trying to be strong and not let anyone know how frightened she is. Angelina knows that Monsieur de Wynter dropped the funding to the newest opera…"

Erik's eyes widened slightly. This was news he had not yet heard. That would be why Arnaud had found the Russian. He needed someone else to fund the opera.

"…she knows how important it is for us to have this new investor."

"That does not mean she needs to suffer in the process."

"This is true. However, Angelina will not compromise anything. You know this, Erik."

"Yes, I know. She is as stubborn as her mother." He began up to his organ, leaving Rene standing there. "Leave me. I promise you, all will be handled."

"Thank you, Erik."

Without any other words, Rene ascended the staircase and listened to the music he lacked hearing on the travel down.

Thoughts filled Erik's mind.

His hands on her body – caressing and touching…

Erik's hands slammed the keys in protest of his thoughts. A man had no right to touch a woman unless she willed it. Vasilev took advantage of a situation and took advantage of a young woman.

Today will be the last day he will touch Angelina.

Erik swore to himself that if Vasilev laid another hand on her that his hands would be around Vasilev's throat.

Beginning to play, his thoughts changed to Angelina. Erik needed to find a way to talk to her and have her understand that it was not her responsibility to make the man happy. Her soul needed to remain intact and for it not to be compromised because of worrying about funding for an opera.

Rising from his organ, he moved to his workbench and began to write…