Wow, thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews. I know that this story is getting more exciting as the chapters go on so I decided to do another chapter in one day due to popular demand. Please enjoy and don't forget to R&R…..

Early the next morning, Erik lied in bed fast asleep wearing his black wig and white mask. After what happened the night before he wound up crying himself to sleep and waking up like he went to bed…a mess. Just then he heard the gates of his lair open and seconds later Clorinda climbed onto the end of his bed. "Good morning Monsieur Kire." she replied. "What time is it?" asked Erik. Clorinda reached over for the pocket watch that was on his night stand and read the time "8 am." "when did you learn to tell time?" asked Erik as he rubbed his eyes. "you taught me." said Clorinda. "right I forgot." said Erik. "you didn't get hurt did you?" asked Clorinda as she lied down next to Erik. "what do you mean?" asked Erik. "last night you didn't show up at the opera and when I came down here there was a man walking around." said Clorinda. "what did this man look like?" asked Erik. "he was so ugly, not even human. He was more like a monster and I yelled at him." said Clorinda. "he was really that ugly?" asked Erik. "hideous." she replied.

Erik had a hard time holding the tears back because he knew what his daughter really thought of him. "what's wrong Monsieur Kire?" asked Clorinda seeing the sorrow in Erik's eyes. "nothing I'm perfectly fine." said Erik. "really because you don't look ok." said Clorinda. "your mother and I got into an argument last night." said Erik. "about what?" asked Clorinda. "she got upset because I missed the opera last night." said Erik. "did you say sorry?" asked Clorinda. "yes but she didn't forgive me." said Erik. "I came here last night and I saw a picture of you and my mom. Have you ever been in love with my mom?" asked Clorinda. "no." said Erik. "you know sometimes I wish that my father were still here. I would have loved to spend time with him but you know what else I wish?" asked Clorinda. "what?" asked Erik. "in my heart I think that you would have made a great father." said Clorinda. "what makes you think that?" asked Erik. "because you're kind to me and treat me just like one of your own." said Clorinda.

Erik smiled, and said "your father would be very proud of you." "I wish he were still here." said Clorinda. "he is, he's in your heart." said Erik wiping the tears out of his eyes. "did you ever have children?" asked Clorinda. "Yes." said Erik. "what happened?" asked Clorinda. "she doesn't know that I'm her father." said Erik. "well why don't you tell her?" asked Clorinda. "she just wouldn't understand." he replied. Clorinda smiled "I think that anything is understandable if given the chance to be explained." "Oh Clorinda." said Erik as he buried his face in his hands. "if only you could understand how I really feel." Clorinda gave Erik a hug, causing him to push her away from him. "Don't touch me." "it's only a hug." she replied. "you can't touch me, just stay away from me." cried Erik. Clorinda got off his bed, and said "my mother's second show is tonight please say that you'll come." "I shall be there." said Erik. "you promise?" asked Clorinda. "yes." said Erik.

Later on that evening, Erik cleaned himself up and got dressed in his Sunday best. As he walked past the stage to get to his box he heard the laughing of Clorinda coming from the halls. He walked around the corner and felt a strike of pain hit his heart at the sight of what he saw. There with his daughter stood Philippe showing her some cheap magic trick. Philippe smiled at Erik, and said "my what smart girl she is." he replied. "What are you doing here?" asked Erik. "I got released of course, my time is up." said Philippe with a smile. "He's my uncle Monsieur Kire." said Clorinda. Philippe turned toward Clorinda and said "you know you don't look like your father." "I don't? my mother says I look just like him." she replied. Erik gave Philippe a look that said "If you tell her about me being the father I'll kill you." Philippe how ever looked back at Erik and said "maybe you do look like your father. I wouldn't surly remember anymore because it has been years since I last saw him." "Monsieur De Changy was just leaving." said Erik. "yes for the Opera, I wouldn't miss Christine's opera for the world." said Philippe as he walked away.

Erik ran into Christine's dressing room to thankfully see that she was the only one around. "Erik? What's wrong?" asked Christine as she put down her hair brush. "Philippe, he's back and he knows that Clorinda is my daughter." said Erik trying to catch his breath. "are you sure it's him?" questioned Christine. "yes, I know that it's him. I just had a conversation with him because he was talking to Clorinda." said Erik. "why on earth has he come back?" questioned Christine. "he wants my daughter, I can't let this happen to me." he replied as he sat down and put his head in his hands. Christine approached her sweet angel of music and had a seat next to him. "Erik sweetheart, I promise you that no one is going to take away our baby girl." said Christine. "Oh Christine, if only you knew how I feel right now." said Erik. "go to your box and stay there with Clorinda. I shall come for you after the show." said Christine. Erik rose to his feet, and said "I love you Christine." "as do I." she replied.

Once Erik returned to his box, he sat with Clorinda who looked as if she were worried about him. "is everything ok?" "yes why?" asked Erik. "because you're sweating." said Clorinda. "I'm fine." said Erik. When the lights dimmed and the music started Erik sighed in relief. Seeing Christine sing sent tingles down his spine causing him to want her. Once the first act was over, from behind him came Andre. "Monsieur Erik, I'm sorry to disturb you but I need you to help raise the sand bags from behind the stage. I would do it myself but I have a bad back." Erik looked at Clorinda and said "stay put." "yes Monsieur" she replied. "why don't you bring her back stage? It might be interesting for her to see what happens behind the scenes." said Andre. "fine." said Erik.

Erik and Clorinda followed Andre behind stage, pushed there way through the crowds of actors and ballerina's. Andre picked Clorinda up in his arms, and said "now watch how strong Monsieur Kire is." Erik took the ropes of the sandbags, and through them over the rafters and began to lift them up one by one. "Wow, you're really strong Monsieur Kire." said Clorinda as she watched Erik pull up each sandbag. Just then one of the actors approached them, and said "Monsieur Andre Ryer needs to see you in the orchestra pit." Andre placed Clorinda back down and said "excuse me." Once Andre walked away, Clorinda stood there watching Erik lift the last few sandbags. Just then Philippe approached Clorinda and said "what on earth are you doing?" Clorinda looked at Philippe and said "Monsieur Kire is very strong." Philippe crossed his arms and said "really now?" Erik rolled his eyes, and said "what did I tell you before? I want you to leave us alone." Philippe smiled, and looked at Clorinda "do you want to see a magic trick?" "yes uncle Philippe." begged Clorinda. Just then Philippe approached Erik and tore away his wig and mask revealing his disheveled locks of blonde hair and distorted flesh. Erik dropped to his knees, and then the curtains opened and Clorinda along with the audience screamed in fear. Erik closed his eyes in disgust and covered his disfigurement with his hand. Philippe turned towards the audience and said "The Opera Ghost has returned, this proves that no one not even him can hide from the world." Erik turned towards his daughter hoping that she could accept him for who he really was but was only disappointed when she screamed louder and ran away from him. The audience all began to scatter out of the theater leaving Erik alone on the floor. Philippe knelt down next to him, and said "no one can ever accept you when they see who you really are. This is just the beginning of your pay back for what happened four years ago."

Once Philippe left him, Erik looked over at Christine who was standing there looking at him in pity. He then noticed that all the ballerina's and actors were standing around looking at him as well. Erik struggled to get to his feet and yelled "what are you all looking at? Haven't you ever seen a man before!" Christine just stood there staring at him, and then watched as her angel ran off into the night forgetting his wig and mask. Christine ran through the halls to try to find her daughter and lost all hope until she heard crying coming from under her bed. Christine sighed, and kneeled down and looked under the bed to see Clorinda crying. "Oh Sweetheart where have you been." Clorinda crawled to Christine and clung to her. "Oh Mommy, I got so scared." Christine held her daughter close to her and said "It's ok sweetheart, I'm here now." "I'm scared mommy, that man is a monster he's like something out of my nightmares." cried Clorinda. Christine immediately put Clorinda down on the bed, and pointed her finger at her. "Now you listen to me young lady, you will not speak of Monsieur Kire that way ever again. After all that he has done for you and now you're going to speak of him like that?" "yes mother." she replied as she lowered her head. "of all things he has taught you the one thing him and I believe in is never to judge a person until you walk a mile in there shoes." said Christine.

Clorinda hugged Christine, and said "but that man isn't Monsieur Kire. He isn't the one we talked to everyday or the one you sung with." Christine sat down on the bed with Clorinda, and said "but he is my dear, I know that it's hard to understand but that man who was on the stage tonight is the same person who you have known your entire life." "I screamed in his face" cried Clorinda. Christine lied her daughter down and covered her up. "Get some sleep sweetie." "Mommy, please don't let him hurt me." cried Clorinda. "Oh honey, don't worry just go to sleep." said Christine. Once Clorinda closed her eyes, Christine walked down to Erik's lair to see him standing in front of one of his mirrors totally lifeless. "Erik, are you alright?" asked Christine as she approached him. Erik made no point to turn and look at her and instead just ran his hand down the glass of the mirror tracing the reflection of his distorted face. "she yelled at me Christine, my own daughter screamed at my true appearance." cried Erik. "Erik she didn't know." said Christine. "know what? That I wasn't really the handsome man she thought I was? That I didn't really have black hair? Because in reality I look like a total monster instead of the lonely handsome man she thought I was?" Christine touched his shoulder and turned him around to face her. His face was wet with tears and his eyes were red from crying so long making Christine feel so bad for him. "I hate when you see me like this." cried Erik. Christine handed him his mask, and said "you left this at the opera." Erik took it from her, and placed it down on his night stand. "just leave me be tonight." he cried. "Oh Erik I can't leave you like this. Come on let us lie with each other." said Christine leading him over to the bed. Erik who was still sobbing lied down on the soft black sheets and blankets with Christine who was running her fingers through his thin blonde locks. "is this helping Erik?" asked Christine. Erik closed his eyes and said "my heart aches."

Christine began to passionately kiss him, and Erik continued it. "do you want me to continue?" asked Christine, eager to unbutton his shirt. When she didn't get a response, Christine un buttoned his shirt anyway, and trailed her fingers all the way down to his trousers. She then unbuttoned the top button sewn into the fabric and slipped her warm hand down into the center, feeling his manhood. As they kissed, Christine stroked his shaft trying to awaken his sexuality. After a while Erik, who couldn't come to make himself get hard enough to make love to her pulled her hand away from him and said "I can't concentrate Christine, not tonight anyway." "what's wrong?" asked Christine. "Oh Christine my daughter will never look at me the same way ever again. Do you know how that makes me feel?" asked Erik. Christine smiled, and said "Don't worry Erik, everything is going to be ok. I learned something important from you." "and what is that?" asked Erik. Christine kissed Erik on the fore head "Fear can turn to love."

The next morning, Clorinda awoke and walked out into the hall to find her mother. After walking around for almost an hour she had finally come across her sitting with Erik in the kitchen. Clorinda backed up in fear at the sight of Erik sitting there wearing his mask and wig once again. "Clorinda, no come here sweetheart." said Christine. Clorinda stood there in the door way trying to look away in fear until she finally came into the room and sat next to her mother.

Erik looked away from her and said "I'm sorry my dear for I have brought you such shame." When Clorinda didn't answer her, Christine looked at his daughter and said "Sweetheart, Erik wants to tell you something." Erik swallowed hard, and said "you see Clorinda I was born very disfigured. When I was a child I was put in a freak show because of my disfigurement and was saved by Madam Giry. The way you saw me last night was what I really look like. This, this body of mine with it's black hair and handsome features are only to hide my true hideousness. I can understand if you never want to see me ever again." "Why would my uncle do this to you?" asked Clorinda. "because he dislikes me." said Erik. "just stay away from me." said Clorinda as she walked out of the room in tears. Erik's eyes had filled with tears, and such pain filled his chest. He had to run after his daughter, and tell her how he felt about her. As Erik ran through the opera house he tried to keep up with Clorinda who was getting farther and farther away from him. They eventually made it outside, and continued the chase through the crowded streets and over to the woods. "Clorinda! No! don't run through there!" yelled Erik as he tried to catch up to her. "leave me alone!" yelled Clorinda as she picked up her pace. Just then as Erik was running, he felt the ground beneath his feet give way causing him to fall and his the ground with a sickening thud. Once Erik came to, everything around him was nothing but dirt and mud. He looked up to see how far he had fallen when he noticed that something didn't feel right. At that moment he gently took his hand and ran it over his leg until he felt blood and bone. When he looked down where his hand was the sight of his shin was torn open with the bone sticking directly out of his flesh. "Christ!" was all that Erik could get out before he lied his head back in agony. As Erik lied there looking up from where he had fallen the sight of Clorinda's head peaking over the hole appeared. "Are you ok?" "I'm in pain." cried Erik as he looked at his daughter. "you're bleeding." she replied. "Clorinda go get your mother and Nadir." demanded Erik. "No." "what?" questioned Erik with a confused tone. "you're a monster." she replied. "Look Clorinda I never once hurt you, so why would I now?" questioned Erik.

Clorinda looked down at the man who she knew her entire life, and said "if I leave you the animals might get you." "Just go get help before I bleed to death." Cried Erik. Once Clorinda was gone, Erik lied there in dyer pain waiting for someone to help him. When the pain got to much for him to handle, he eventually blacked out. When Erik awoke, everything was blurry to him. He couldn't see straight and the pain in his body was worse than when he was in the hole. "Erik, my poor sweet angel." were the soothing words that he heard coming from the familiar voice of his beloved Christine. "Christine….Is that you? I cant see much." he replied. Christine sat down next to Erik, and touched his face with her warm hands. "yes my love, I'm here." "I'm in so much agony." cried Erik as he tried to keep still. Christine looked down at Erik's wounded leg and loosened the bandages a little. After Clorinda had come for her and Nadir they both managed to get Erik out of the hole and bring him back to the opera house. Nadir managed to place the bone back into Erik's shin but wouldn't be able to stitch it up until the infection went away so instead gave him a vaccine to take away some of the agony.

Christine sat there soothing Erik's pains away as he tried to sleep off some of the agony. "where is Clorinda?" asked Erik. Christine removed his mask to prevent irritation to his skin and said "she's in her room." "God hates me my love, he has given me a daughter who doesn't know I'm her flesh and blood and then gives her the power to hate me." said Erik. "what do you suppose we do Erik? We cannot tell her that you are her father. The police will be after her and you and possibly me for sleeping with you." said Christine. "I want her to love me Christine." cried Erik. "and she will, fear will turn to love." said Christine as she ran her fingers through his blonde locks. "promise that you wont leave me Christine." begged Erik as he squeezed her hand. "I promise Erik." she replied. "I am in so much pain Christine." said Erik as he cringed in agony. "don't worry my love everything is going to be ok." said Christine. "no everything will not be ok Christine. I want you to do something for me." said Erik. "and what's that?" asked Christine. "do you trust me Christine?" asked Erik. "yes with all my heart." she replied. "and do you truly love me?" asked Erik. Christine smiled "yes more than life." "then marry me. I want to be able to touch you, love you, be with you and my daughter without having to worry about others thinking that I am some kind of pervert. Marry me Christine, please." begged Erik. "what about the police Erik? What about what Clorinda will think if she sees that you and I are getting married?" questioned Christine. "what she'll think? Christine I don't care what anyone thinks. I am sick and tired of looking at you and not being able to love you the way I should be able to. I don't care if tonight was my last night on earth, I want to be with you forever." cried Erik. "just because we have a daughter together does not mean that we have to be married." said Christine. "But Christine, you don't understand I want to be married to you. I want you to sleep beside me at night." said Erik. "and what will Clorinda think of this after seeing what you really look like?" asked Christine.

Erik wiped the tears out of his eyes, and said "you know what I think Christine?" "what?" asked Christine. "I think that you want nothing more of me than some kind of pleasure. I love you Christine if I can't marry you then I don't want to be with you." said Erik. "I don't want to put you in such dangers Erik." said Christine. "Oh Christine if only you knew how I felt inside. Being with you is like having shards of glass shoved through my heart. I love you so much that when I am rejected by you it kills me on the inside." said Erik. Christine didn't have another word to say to him and just gave her angel a quick kiss and said "get some rest Erik and we shall talk later." "this is what you do all the time Christine." he replied. Before leaving her angel she turned to him and said "sometimes my love it is for the best." she then blew out some of the candles and left her angel's lair……..

More to come R&R……