Hey everyone, thanks again for the reviews. I shall try to put more detail into my writing and try to be a little more careful about my spelling. Enjoy….

Clorinda sat on the end of Colum's bed watching her mother dress into her night gown. After the opera had ended, Clorinda couldn't help but begin to miss Erik's company. She was glad that her mother was back with Colum but also missed Erik at the same time. After Christine had dressed in her white night gown, she had a seat at her dresser and began to brush her curly brown hair with a brush. In the mirror, Christine watched Clorinda plop back onto the mattress and let out a small sigh.

"Something wrong Clorinda?"

"No I'm perfectly fine Mother."

"I think it's time for you to go to bed then."

Just then Colum walked into the room, and walked over to Christine to give her a kiss. Christine kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his muscular body.

"I'll take the girl to bed."

Colum then lifted Clorinda up into the air and carried her to her bedroom. Once he covered her up in her blankets, he noticed that she was holding a doll.

"What is that?"

"Nothing."

Colum tore the doll away from Clorinda's arms and noticed that it was a replica of the Opera Ghost. It looked exactly like him, from his white mask down to the final button and cape attached to it's shirt.

"Where did you get this?"

"It was given to me by a friend."

"Friend?"

"Yes a friend, now give it back."

Colum handed the doll back to her, and tucked her in bed. Clorinda hugged the doll and looked at her father.

"Father?"

"Yes?"

"I have done everything in my power to ruin Mother's and Monsieur Kire's dinner like you told me to do. I'm glad that you and mother are back together but I can't help but feel bad about it."

Colum immediately grasped Clorinda's shoulders and got into her face in anger.

"No Clorinda, you mustn't feel sorry about it. Is that what you want? For your mother to marry some strange man that's not even your father?"

"It's just hard for me to be away from him. I've known him since birth Father."

"I am your father Clorinda! Not that strange man."

"Please don't yell at me Father."

Clorinda couldn't keep herself from crying and pushed Colum away from her. She then grabbed her doll and buried her head beneath the pillows.

"If that's the way you feel about this Clorinda then you can just stay in this room until you're sixty five years old!"

Clorinda closed her eyes and kept her head buried in the pillows until she heard the door slam shut. She then pulled the covers over her head and looked at the doll Erik had given her.

"I can't stay here anymore."

Once the lights had gone out in the room, Clorinda quietly tiptoed to her closet and began to get dressed in her red Cloak and green dress. She then took a lantern from off the table and made her way through the Opera House. The lights were out and the hall ways were vacant except for the occasional prop lying on the floor. Once Clorinda was outside, she trudged through the snow and turned to look at the opera house one last time. She couldn't stay there any longer especially with her father being the way he was.

Erik lied in his bed fast asleep, he had gotten to bed earlier that evening in order to put his aching heart at ease for a few hours. After touching Christine in Don Juan Triumphant he couldn't help but lust for more than what he could have. Once he woke up, Erik tossed and turned to try to get himself back to sleep. Once he could no longer get to sleep, Erik decided to take a walk to make himself sleepy again. After placing his dusky cloak over his crisp white shirt, Erik grabbed a lantern and decided to walk through the park. Out side was cold and the wind seemed to never stop blowing through the December sky. Once Erik made it to the park, he couldn't help but notice someone sitting by the frozen pond. As he held out his lantern, he noticed that it was a small girl, and when he approached her, Erik immediately knew that it was Clorinda.

"Clorinda? What on earth are you doing out here?"

Clorinda turned towards Erik, and then turned back away. Erik knew that something bad had happened back at the opera house, because why else would a small girl be at the park in the middle of the night. Erik picked her up out of the snow, and held her close to his body as she cried on his shoulder. As he held her small body close to his, Erik could feel the shoulder of his shirt becoming wet with her tears.

"Come on, let us get back to the opera house where it is warm."

Erik carried her back to his lair, and sat her down at his kitchen table. Erik then heated up some hot water and made the both of them a cup of hot chocolate. After sitting the mug down in front of Clorinda he handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tear soaked eyes.

"Wipe your eyes Clorinda."

Once she began to do so, Erik took a seat across from her and took a sip from his mug. When Clorinda didn't drink anything, Erik picked her up and sat her on his knee.

"Since when do you give up a perfectly delicious cup of hot chocolate?"

"I'm not thirsty."

"Tell me Clorinda, what's wrong? You can tell me."

"I was running away Monsieur Kire, running away for good."

"Why on earth would you want to leave me? You know how much I love you Clorinda."

"I've been so cruel to you Monsieur Kire. I just can't forgive my self for what I have done to you."

"Running away from your problems won't solve anything, you know that."

"It would make them go away."

"Where on earth would a four year old uneducated girl go?"

Clorinda buried her head into Erik's shirt again and began to cry harder than she had before. Erik was right, where on earth was she going to go? She just couldn't forgive her self for being so mean to him.

"It's my mother Monsieur. She has fallen in love with Colum and it's all my fault."

"Nonsense child, your mother left me because she wasn't happy."

"Yes because of me, it's all my fault. I ruined the dinner you planned with mother. I made up things to get her angry with you. It's all my fault Monsieur and I'm sorry."

"But I don't understand, why? Why would you do that?"

"Because Colum told me to, he told me that we could be a happy family again."

"Happy family?"

"He's my father Monsieur, he's my real father."

"He told you this?"

"Yes."

At that moment, Erik's blood began to boil but he kept it under control. He had told Clorinda a complete lie and now it had caused the love of his life to leave him for good.

"Don't worry about it Clorinda, I am going to take care of this."

"Can you ever forgive me Monsieur?"

"Yes, of course I can."

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

"Of course."

Erik finished up his hot chocolate, and then carried her off to bed.

"Monsieur Kire, can I sleep with you tonight?"

"I don't think that it would be appropriate."

"Please Monsieur."

"Just for tonight."

Erik carried Clorinda to his bed chamber, and lied her down in between the soft blankets of his swan bed. He then crawled in bed lied next to her in the dim light of a candle that was placed on his night stand. Clorinda removed the mask that covering the distorted side of his face, and touched the small scar that he had on his cheek.

"We both have the same scar Monsieur."

"Yes, I see that."

"I'm sorry that I called you hideous."

"It's ok, you're not the first person to say it."

"Can you turn on the monkey music box? It helps me sleep."

Erik nodded, and reached over for his music box which had the Persian Monkey sitting on top of it. As he cranked the gold handle on it, the familiar song of Masquerade began to play. Erik tucked her in, ran his hand through her curly locks of hair as she began to drift off to sleep. By the time the song stopped playing, Clorinda was fast asleep and so Erik blew out the candle and nestled down beside her.

The next morning, Clorinda awoke to the sight of Erik lying fast asleep beside her. She had begun to fell so stupid for doing to Erik what she had done. Clorinda had began to think about what Madam Giry had told her months ago about how knowing her real father would be a disappointment. She had thought she would come to love her real father but couldn't help but be mad at him for all that he had done to her. Moments later, Erik stirred in his sleep, and rolled over onto his back before opening his eyes.

"Good morning Monsieur."

Erik turned to face her, and smiled.

"Good morning Clorinda."

"Monsieur, do you think that maybe we could spend the day together?"

"Now you know that your mother is going to be looking for you."

"I ran away remember? Please Monsieur?"

"Clorinda, you need to go back to your mother."

"Could I at least stay with you one more night? Please don't make me go back….please."

Erik got to his feet, and began to change his shirt.

"Sooner or later you're going to have to return to your mother."

"I know, but not today."

"At least let me tell your mother that you're with me."

"I'm staying here."

"Ok, do what you must, I shall return later."

Erik placed the mask over his face, and then walked out of the lair to find Christine. As Erik walked on the rafters to get around the opera house, he found Christine searching frantically through the hall ways to Clorinda.

"Christine."

Hearing her voice, Christine looked up and saw Erik standing in the rafters above her. He quickly put a finger to his lips to tell her to be quiet and found her climbing the rafters to meet him.

"What the hell is going on Erik?"

"You're the one that's climbing the rafters."

"I'm looking for Clorinda, she's run off again."

"She's with me Christine."

"With you? What are you kidnapping my children now?"

"Kidnapping? Nonsense, I went to the park last night and saw her sitting there. She came to me Christine."

"Well why don't you give her back? Where is she now?"

"She doesn't want to come back Christine, not with that Colum man being with you and all."

"Erik, she has to come back."

"Do you know that Colum told her that he's her real father?"

"What?"

'That's right Christine, he told Clorinda that he is her real father."

After a few minutes of silence, Erik shook his head and glanced at her.

"You know Christine, I just don't understand what you see in a complete stranger. If that is what makes you happy then I'm glad you feel that way, just don't bring our daughter into it."

"Erik, I had no idea…..please"

"No Christine, you have no idea because you don't care to know. I have Clorinda safe with me, let us keep it that way."

"You can't control my life Erik."

"No, but if you're going to date someone at least know a little about them. If I were you I would definitely find some more out about him. I mean his name is Monsieur Colum….what on earth is his last name? and why is he here?"

"I'm sorry that I'm not a stalker like you"

"Do you know that man goes around telling me how great you are in bed? Is that someone who really cares about privacy?"

"Not all men are like you Erik."

"But he did tell my daughter to ruin that dinner Christine. He has corrupted our daughter and made her into a complete lying little vixen."

"No Erik, you're lying!"

"That is another thing you need to learn how to do Christine! You need to trust me once in a while. I was right about the aphrodisiac Chardonnay, Meg saw Colum slipping it to you. I told you about it and you thought I was lying."

When Christine didn't say anything, Erik turned and began to walk the other way. Christine then stormed off back to Colum to find out what was really going on. She had found him in his room reading a book, and didn't hesitate on closing it on him.

"So, did you find the little brat?"

"Why are you telling my daughter lies?"

"Lies?"

"Yes lies, you told her that you were her father."

"Yea so maybe I did. I only did it to make her trust me."

"Yes trust you enough to ruin my relationship with Monsieur Kire."

"Yes I had to in order to be with you. You wouldn't leave that man for nothing."

"So you told my daughter lies and made her into some kind of evil slave?"

"You make it sound like a bad thing Christine. We're happy together now and I love you."

"Love? When you love somebody you don't take away their current lover by making their daughter into some kind of gullible monkey."

"Wait? Their daughter? You were in a relationship with Clorinda's father?"

"I didn't say it like that Colum."

"Yes you did, so who is this Monsieur Kire? I need to know so I can go and find him."

"You leave him alone Colum."

"So it is true, Clorinda's father is Monsieur Kire."

"I want to know Colum, why have you come to Paris?"

"I already told you Christine. I'm here to catch the bastard who killed my two brothers."

"Well maybe you should try looking outside the opera house Colum."

"Nonsense, the one I want is right behind these walls and I have heard from numerous people that you were once in love with him."

"Who?"

"The opera ghost, he's alive."

"No he isn't he died."

"We shall see Christine, we shall see."

"I have to go to rehearsal now Colum."

"You go on ahead, I shall see you tonight at the performance of Don Juan Triumphant."

Down in the lair, Erik stood in front of his mirror preparing for the nights show of his Don Juan Triumphant. It would be the last one before the new showing of some other opera would take place tomorrow night. As he dressed himself, Clorinda sat on the edge of his swan bed watching him.

"Are you nervous?"

"No."

"Not even a bit?"

"No, I've done this a thousand times over again."

"Can I come on stage tonight?"

"No Clorinda."

"How come?"

"I told you before, tonight you will be seated in box four with Andre. I don't want you leaving his side either, you stay with him until I come to get you at the end of the show."

"Yes Father."

Erik turned to her in amazement at what she had said.

"What did you say?"

"Sorry, I mean yes Monsieur Kire."

Erik finished dressing himself, and adjusted the mask over his distorted flesh before taking Clorinda by the hand and leaving the lair.

In Christine's dressing room, she sat there in front of the mirror putting the last finishing touches on her dress before the opera would start. When she heard a knock at the door, she turned to see Colum entering with a rose. He placed it down on the dresser, and tried to give Christine a kiss, a kiss at which she would not accept.

"I'm very displeased with you Colum."

"Don't worry Christine, you will be very surprised at the show tonight."

"Really? Why is that?"

"you shall see Christine."

"Just leave me be, I will see you after the show."

Once Colum left, Christine stood up and looked at herself one last time in the mirror before leaving her dressing room so the show could begin.

Don Juan Triumphant had always started out the same as it always did. First the gypsies would dance to Erik's weird score and then Christine would come out onto the stage and sing as she held a rose in her hand. As soon as she would hear "Master…..Pasadeno." Christine knew that Erik had come out onto the stage and was only a few seconds away from touching her. As Erik was making his way towards Christine, he noticed that something wasn't right. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a few officers coming towards him but didn't have time to react, in seconds they were at his side and pushing him down to the ground. The actors along with the audience stirred in confusion as to what was going on. The music had stopped as well, and Christine ran to the officers who were holding Erik down to the ground with their guns pointed at him. From box four, Andre stood up and yelled to the officers.

"Excuse me! What is the meaning of this?"

Just then from behind the curtains came Colum. He smiled so evilly as he approached Erik and the officers.

"Excuse me for the inconvenience Monsieur Andre but I had to catch me a murderer."

"Murderer? What on earth is going on Colum?"

Before anything else happened, Colum took center stage in front of the whole city of Paris and bowed.

"Madam and Monsieur's, I Colum have come here tonight to catch me a murderer and now in front of you all I have succeeded."

The audience watched as Colum walked behind Erik, and pulled off the wig to reveal his blonde locks of hair.

"Can I have a drum roll please?"

When nothing happened, Colum looked over at Ryer.

"Monsieur Ryer I believe that I have asked for a drum roll."

When the drum roll began, Colum pulled Erik's head up by his blonde strands of hair, causing him to grunt in pain. Christine tried to stop him, but the officers held her back.

"Paris, I have come here to show you that the opera ghost is not dead and that you have all made a great mistake. In the grave of the opera ghost is not the opera ghost's body. It is of my brothers and now before you all I show you the real Opera Ghost."

Then before the whole city, Colum pulled off the black mask that was covering Erik's flesh, revealing Erik's hideous face to the crowd. People screamed and shouted in fear as they glanced upon Erik's disfigured face.

"He's Hideous!"

"He's Alive!"

Christine stared at Colum and began to cry as the crowded theater started to empty out as people ran from their seats.

"Why Colum? Why do this to him?"

"Because he killed my brothers Raoul and Philippe De Changy."

"No…..you mean….you mean all this time you were…..were a…."

"That's right Christine, I'm a De Changy boy. And now it is time to put the opera Ghost to his death."……………

MORE TO COME SOON!!