Hey everyone thanks again for the reviews. Yes it is yet another De Changy, I just had to do it. I didn't do it just to keep the story going but also because I have great ideas for the next segment of this story that involves Colum. Keep reading and enjoying the story because it's far from over.

Once Ryer had told the orchestra that practice was over, Clorinda took her violin and walked back down to the gondola to go back home to see her mother. Practice had been very boring that day just because Ryer didn't let her join as much as he usually let her. He had told her that this was the final rehearsal before the opera that night and didn't have time to correct mistakes. When Clorinda reached the gates of the lair, they rose from the water and let her pass so she could dock the boat on the side. When Clorinda opened the gate to walk into the lair she spotted her mother and Monsieur Kire on the couch. As she got closer, she sat her violin down and approached them.

"Hi mother, Monsieur Kire."

Christine got to her feet, and looked at Erik who was still very angry.

"I'll leave you two alone."

When she walked away, Erik looked over at Clorinda.

"Clorinda, would you like to tell me something."

"No, what?"

Erik grabbed the music papers from the side of him and through them down in front of her.

"That! How many times? How many times have I told you to stay away from my things? Do you know that it will take me weeks to organize those!"

Clorinda hated his anger because it scared her to death and all she could do was bow her head and try not to cry.

"I…I'm sorry."

Erik angrily got to his feet and grabbed her arm as strong as he could and through her down on the couch.

"Do you know how hard I work? Do you know how long it has taken me to write those papers? I had them all in perfect order Clorinda and now I have no clue on where to start! Monsieur Andre was expecting me to have that opera finished and given to him by next week. I'm sick and behind enough as it is."

Clorinda was so upset that she began to cry and turn away from Erik.

"Don't cry girl! If anyone should be upset it should be me!"

Clorinda wiped her eyes and angrily turned towards him.

"No one is going to like your opera anyway!"

"And why is that? Tell me Clorinda why is that?"

"Because of your face! Look at you! Do you think anyone would ever respect you!"

Erik was speechless and turned away from her.

"I'm sorry that I knocked your stupid papers off the table. I'm a human and I make mistakes too! You on the other hand aren't a human being you're…..you're a monster!"

With that Clorinda ran away and Erik turned toward her to see Christine standing there watching. Erik ran over to the corner of his lair where a basin of water was sitting on a table and looked down into it. His own daughter could not love him and he couldn't love himself. With that Erik knocked over the basin in anger and placed the mask back over his face before disappearing into his bedchambers. Christine shook her head and walked to Clorinda's bed where she was lying face down in her pillows.

"What you did was disrespectful Clorinda."

"No it wasn't."

"Yes it was you had no reason to say that to him."

"He had no right to say those mean things to me either."

"You might be only 4 Clorinda but you have the mouth of a 10 year old and you need to stop it. Monsieur Kire treats us like his own family and for as long as he is here you will respect him and his things."

"Only if he respects me Mother."

"I'm afraid that I am going to have to punish you for saying those things to him. You are not allowed to leave the lair."

"What! For how long?"

"until I say so. What you did to Monsieur Kire was hurtful Clorinda and now you will pay for it."

"I hate living here mother! Why can't we get a house like everyone else? Why do we have to be kept down here like a bunch of caged animals? Just because Monsieur Kire hates the world doesn't mean I do too."

"Young lady you will stay quiet and if I see you stepping one foot out of this bed chamber I will promise you to never see the light of day ever again."

With that Christine left Clorinda and walked into Erik's bedchambers to see him lying on his bed with his mask placed back over his face.

"Erik."

"Go away Christine."

"Oh Erik, please don't be like this."

"My own daughter thinks I'm a monster Christine."

"Oh Erik she's just mad at you that's all."

"Just leave me be."

Just then a knock occurred at the gate.

"Who could that be Erik?"

"I don't know just leave me be."

Christine walked out to the gate to see Andre standing there.

"Andre, how are you?"

"Fine, may I come in for a few seconds?"

Christine let him in, and shut the gate behind him.

"So what brings you around here?"

"I needed a favor from you Miss Daae."

"What?"

"My lead singer has become ill and I need someone to take over for tonight."

"Haven't you an understudy?"

"No and you're the only one in this forsaken opera house with a voice to make angels cry."

"I couldn't Monsieur Andre I haven't sang since I got pregnant."

"Please I'm begging you, we have a full house tonight."

"Ok, I guess I will just make sure Erik has had his medication before I leave."

"Oh thank you so much Miss Daae."

"Thank me later Andre."

"Then I shall see you around five then."

"Yes, of course."

When Andre left, Christine sighed and walked back to Erik's bedchambers.

"Who was it?"

"Andre, he needs me to sing in the opera tonight. If I leave you alone with Clorinda will you be ok?"

"You did ground her right?"

"Yes."

"Do me a favor and take her with you."

"No I can't Erik, she's grounded."

"Great."

"Why don't you just come with me?"

"No, I can't I'm sick and besides I don't think I have enough strength to keep myself up in the rafters out of everyone's sight."

"I won't be long."

"Do it for me Christine, sing like and angel for me."

"Erik I sing for you and you only."

With that Christine left Erik alone in his chambers to get ready for the opera. When the door to the opera house opened, Colum looked at his ticket and noticed that it read Box 5 on the stub. He sat himself in one of the chairs and looked down at the stage. Just then another man came and had a seat in the chair beside him.

"Good Evening, I'm Monsieur Colum."

"Monsieur Andre, I own the opera house."

"Ah Monsieur Andre, I've heard oh so much about you."

Andre turned towards him.

"Really?"

"No not really, it's actually my first time here."

"What brings you to Paris?"

"Holiday is all my friend."

"Well we're all in for a treat tonight."

"Why is that?"

"Because I have replaced my opera diva for the show because she has grown ill."

"Isn't that a bad thing?"

"No my friend tonight it is a good thing."

When the lights dimmed, the curtain opened and the music began. Then Christine walked out on stage wearing a green skirt and white shirt. Her hair had been done along with the most beautifully done make up ever put on a girl. Colum glanced at her and looked back at Andre.

"Who is that exceptional beauty?"

"That is Christine Daae, the replacement diva that I was talking about."

"My God she's beautiful, anyway that I could talk to her after the show?"

"My friend, everyone wants to talk to her. You're not the only one with a crush on her in this whole city."

"Please Monsieur I have to talk to this girl."

"I have promised her friend protection against all danger. I can't break that promise Monsieur."

"Oh come now Andre, do I look dangerous to you? All I want to do is tell her how wonderful she looks."

"If that is all Monsieur then I think that can be arranged."

Back in the Lair….

Erik sat on the couch looking over his music sheets, trying to get them back into order when Clorinda came and had a seat on the other end of the couch. They looked at each other in silence and then Erik went back to looking over his music without even saying a word to her.

"So Did mom ground you too?"

Erik didn't answer her and kept looking over his music.

"Monsieur Kire, maybe I over reacted a little today. I'm sorry I called you a monster, I just hate you're temper that's all."

"Well maybe that hurt my feelings."

"I'm sorry."

Erik sighed and put down his music.

"Maybe if you promise never touch my things again I will promise to control my temper."

"That's a deal."

"Come here Clorinda."

Erik motioned her to sit next to him and she moved closer to him.

"Christmas is getting closer and by then the lake will have hardened again if you would like to ice skating once more."

"Yea I'd love to."

"I'll talk to your mother and when I'm well again perhaps we can all go."

"Can I ask you a question Monsieur?"

"Yes anything."

"Do you love my mother?"

"Yes of course more than life itself."

"Then how come you don't treat her like you love her?"

"It's very complicated Clorinda."

"Why am I named Clorinda? Why not Beth? Or Meg?"

"Because your father loved you enough to name you after his one love."

"And what's that?"

"Music."

"I wish he were here with me now."

"He is, he's all around you Clorinda even when you don't think so."

"Will I ever see him again?"

"I have a feeling that he's already looking at you everyday."

"You think so?"

"Yes Clorinda, he loves you very much."

"I hope you feel better soon."

"Yea I'm pretty sure I will."

Back at the Opera….

Once the opera house cleared out, Christine went to her dressing room and began to get changed back into her regular clothes. Just then a knock occurred at the door and she got up to answer it. When she did she saw Andre standing there with a handsome man.

"Ah, Miss Daae I have someone who wants to meet you. This is Monsieur Colum."

Christine smiled and put out her hand to shake his.

"Ah Miss Daae, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I just have to tell you how lovely you sang tonight."

"Thank you Monsieur."

"No problem, I was wondering if someone as fine as yourself would be interested in accompanying me in getting a drink."

"Oh no thank you Monsieur, I already have plans."

"Really?"

"Yes, I would love to stay and chat but I really do have something else to attend."

"May I walk with you then?"

"Of course."

Christine walked beside Colum as they descended down the halls.

"So Colum, what brings you to Paris? Family?"

"Oh no, my family is dead. My parents died years ago back in Scotland and both my brothers were murdered."

"Murdered?"

"Yes brutally by a monster."

"That is unfortunate, I'm sorry to hear that."

"Yes well I suppose if I found the right girl to spend my life with it wouldn't be so bad."

"Yes well you seem like a nice man, and I'm sure any girl would be happy to be with you."

"Well maybe I might be able to have lunch with you one day?"

"Maybe, but for now I have to get back to my daughter."

"Daughter?"

"Yes, she's 4."

"And the father?"

"Dead, he dies of pneumonia a few years ago. It was nice meeting you monsieur but I really have to go."

Colum kissed Christine's hand, and smiled at her.

"Please the pleasure is all mine. I shall be around Miss Daae."

When Christine left him, she got back to the lair to notice Clorinda and Erik asleep next to each other on the couch.

"You are your father's daughter, even when you fight you're still friends."

Christine picked Clorinda up and carried her to her bed before covering Erik up on the couch and kissing him good night.

"Sleep well my angel of music."

More to come soon!!