Thank you for all the kind reviews! I received my ten reviews, and true to my word I have updated. Here is chapter twenty-three:

His Treasured Possession

The house seemed different this time. Maybe it was because some lights were on outside that it made it less intimidating than last time.

This time, they used the front door which opened to the living room. The living room was decorated with leather black sofas and a Persian carpet. There were two end tables and on each there were lamps.

There was no television but only a surround system complete with CD player, tape recorder and most likely an MP3. Across from that room there was the dining room. The Dining table and chairs had to be oak and when Christine looked up, she saw a chandelier.

"I love this house."

"Thank you," he said.

Christine blinked a couple of times, only then did she realize she had said it out loud.

"It's definitely a step up from, well, you know."

Christine smiled. "It definitely is."

Just then, a tinkling bell brought the attention of both Erik and Christine.

Erik got to his knees on the floor and stretched out his arms and received the owner of the jingling bell. Which was, to Christine's astonishment, a black cat.

Erik rubbed her down and the small feline purred audibly.

"He's so pretty!" Christine said also getting to her knees.

"Christine, meet the only one who has stuck by me for the last couple of years, Ayesha."

Erik put her down and she started rubbing against his knee.

Christine started scratching her underneath her chin. " Pleasure to meet you, Ayesha." She turned over and allowed Christine to scratch her stomach. "She's so beautiful."

The stayed like that for a while until Erik broke the silence.

"Do you like stir fry?"

Christine nodded. "Love it."

After washing their hands, Erik led her to a balcony that had a view of almost the whole city, then he left, presumably to get the food.

The night was humid and Christine had to hug herself against the wind. The balcony was as elegant as the interior of the house. There wasn't a railing but there were black tinted glass panes. The floor was hardwood like most of the house, but the tile was a dark brown color. The patio furniture was a dark green that seemed to accent the balcony. There was a lit lantern, three chairs and a table.

She had fallen in love with the house.

Just then, Erik came out with the plates. Christine thanked him and when he went back in and out again, he brought two champagne glasses full to the top.

"Sparkling apple cider, Nadir told me you didn't like liquor."

Christine took it. "Liking it and keeping it down are two different things."

Erik laughed and they sat down at the table. Christine thought it was the best thing she had ever eaten. She didn't know he could cook. She ate brazenly, oblivious to Erik's gaze.

She had caught one glance but thought nothing of it. She had smiled then and complimented him once again on the delicious dinner he had prepared.

She imagined her life with him like she had done so often after he had left. Back then, she would picture herself in his lair, next to the underground lake. She thought she would live with him down there in the gloom, never again to see sunlight or her friends.

But suddenly, now it all changed, starting with him living in a lavish California home. He could give her anything she wanted, anything she wished. He had completely turned his life around, changed for the better. He was a better person now, he didn't hold any grudges against her, in fact, he seemed to want to be with her, and not lie to her.

His deformity had nothing to do with her decision before when she chose Raoul. It was his soul, him that she couldn't be with. But now, he was changed. He was a better man. He was the man that she had wanted all along.

Maybe I shouldn't lie to him, she thought. He has to know about me and Raoul.

But she didn't get the courage until after dinner. But even then, there would be a distraction. There was desert, and then he put on music.

After that, she didn't know how she would bring it up. She knew he deserved to know the truth that she had lied to him since day one when all he would do was constantly be nice to her and tell her the truth.

But all thought stopped when a familiar song began to play over the radio speakers.

Christine jumped up saying, "I love this song!"

She had heard it the night after Faust. She didn't know who it was by or the name of the song and frankly, she didn't care. She loved the contagious beat and the way it made her want to get up and dance.

By the look on Erik's face, it seemed as if he didn't like the music.

Christine took his hands. "Come on, dance with me."

Erik looked at her as if she were nuts. "I don't dance."

"Oh, please," Christine said smiling. "What did you do the other night? At the pier?"

Erik looked away as if he were blushing. "That was different."

"Not really," she said as she proceeded to dance. "Maybe you can't dance," she taunted him. Then she started to sing along. That was when he took her by the waist, picked her up and spun around. She didn't know she was so light.

Christine squealed with laughter as his hand went to her back and supported her as he leaned her back. Christine giggled, "I knew you had it in you."

That was when she saw it.

It had come loose from the shirt he wore. She hadn't thought about it. But there it hung, on a chain, the ring she had given him before she left.

He didn't know she had seen it until she touched it with her hand. The gold band and small diamond were untarnished and seemed to be exactly as she had given it to him. "You kept it."

When she looked at him, she saw hurt in his eyes. Then he placed her upright, let her go and stepped to the glass railing.

Christine looked at him from where she stood. His back was to her and she thought that he had forgotten all about her because of the silencebetween them.

"Christine," he said softly. "I will keep it forever, it's the only thing I have from you."

Christine walked to him and took his hand.

He looked at their entwined hands, not understanding.

"Now you have me," she told him softly. She didn't know why she did it, but she went into his arms and placed her head on his chest.

His arm encircled her in a warm embrace and she didn't want him to let go. She felt so warm, at peace. She hadn't felt that way since…Raoul and her first moved to Los Angeles.

That was when she remembered that she had to tell Erik about their break up. Although she didn't want to, she let her arms loose and Erik let her go.

Christine bit her bottom lip. "Erik, I have to tell you something."

Erik looked at her waiting for her to speak.

She began to speak but struggled as she did. "Well, I haven't been totally honest with you."

Erik raised his eyebrows.

Christine couldn't bear to look at him as she spoke. "Well, you see, um, me and Raoul aren't engaged."

After a while, Erik said, "You're married?" Then his voice dropped. "Pregnant?"

Christine shook her head vigorously. "No. Not pregnant. Never pregnant. Well, we've never had the chance to-" Shut your mouth, Christine. Shut up, he doesn't need to know this! Christine cleared her throat nervously. "W-well, you see, we've never been engaged. We broke up."

Christine couldn't look at him, she just stared out at the scenery before her. God, what is wrong with me? She thought. She almost let him know the one thing she had told Raoul to swear to never tell anyone. What was it about him that made her so nervous?

"When did you two break up?"

"The day after you and I had our first dinner," Christine told him.

Erik seemed to shuffle behind her, but she would not turn around. She knew that there was going to be glee in his eyes. After all, Raoul was the only obstacle before when he wanted to take her.

"Was it because we went to dinner together? Was it because of me?"

Christine shook her head furiously. "No, no. Erik, it wasn't you. Please don't think that. This has been a long time coming."

"May I ask why?"

Christine sighed and said what she felt was true. "He loved his work more than he loved me."

"Christine, I'm sorry."

Christine shrugged. "Nothing to be sorry about. Sometimes I wonder if it was me. Maybe I pushed him into his work."

"No, Christine," Erik said making her face him.

She tried to avoid looking at his eyes. She didn't want him to see the tears pushing into her eyes. His forefinger and thumb touched her chin and made her look at him. "Christine, I'm sure it wasn't your fault. If he had problems it was his not yours. He should have taken the time to be with you." His hand graced her wet cheek. "Specially an angel as sweet as you."

Christine smiled. "You're the first to take my side."

"I'll always take your side," he told her.

She sniffled. "I must be a mess," she told him as she stepped back and wiped her tears.

He smiled kindly. "You wish to wash up?"

Christine nodded.

"This way," Erik said and he led her through his home until they reached the bathroom.

He left her by herself and she washed her face a couple of times. She finally was able to reduce her red puffy eyes and when she finished redoing her hair, she walked out into a dark hallway.

She hadn't realized how dark it was. She looked around, trying to remember where they had come from.

How she hated the dark. She found that she was afraid of it now. Sometimes she would laugh at herself, what kind of person grew afraid of the dark after they were teenagers?

Something brushed past her leg, making her gasp with fright. She held her hands at her mouth, to keep from shouting out.

She held her hand at her heart and willed it to slow the fast pace. Only after she herd the tinkling bell did she realize what it was.

It was only Ayesha.

She looked at the floor and watched her as she ran past her and into a room.

She looked at the floor and watched as a slant of light grew bigger. Christine followed the light and saw where it came from. He had left a light on in a room and left the door ajar. Ayesha had went into the room and left the door open.

Christine walked forward and looked into the room. Curiosity overwhelmed her as she stepped forward. She could see one wall, it was covered in drawings of something she couldn't quite make out.

There were hardwood walls with a painting as far as she could see. As she stepped closer she could see the drawings were sketches of someone or something.

She could almost make it out when she heard a voice behind her.

"Christine."

Christine turned sharply and looked at Erik's figure in the darkness.

"Erik," she said quickly. "You startled me."

He walked to her but didn't speak.

"I'm sorry, I got a little lost. I thought the living room was this way-"

Erik walked past her and to the room. Without opening the door more than it was, he reached in and turned off the light.

Christine blinked at the sudden darkness and jumped at the sound of the door slamming closed.

He was mad, she knew he was. She hated herself for being so damn curious. She had seen him mad before, the first being when she had taken off his mask.

She trembled at the memory, remembering how he had taken her by her arms and had pushed her to the floor.

"Erik," Christine told him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come down here."

His hand touched her cheek. "Come, my angel." His hand went down to her's, grazing her arm as it did. "Sing with me."

Ooh! I am sucha little tease! There is a bit of Erik's temper for you. Okay, so yes, everyone who guessed the ring was right. But the one that got it first was onelastchance (and was really confident about it too) so if you would kindly email me with like your homepage or age and stuff that I can put into the character, it would be much appreciated. By the way, You will appear in chapter thirty-four if not later because that's where I'm writing right now.
Silverwind24- I'm glad that you like my fic and my Erik... (truth be told I'd fall head over heels for him too) about the whole hair thing, it's creepy too, but so Erik (I think I've said too much)
TruPhan- Yay! I'm glad i got something right!
KillerVeggies- No! --chains Erik to a wall and puts him in a high level security room-- He's mine! --hugs Erik-- (maybe I've gone off the deep end...) But he's still mine!
Coming up: Chapter Twenty-Four: Sunday Breakfast...okay, the next chapter is short but it is very very important . --grins-- I will say no more...