Disclaimer: Not mine... at all... ( Wishes Erik Were)

A/N: So, yes chapter 10. I was away at a convention, so I sorry the update took so 'effing long. My sincere apologies. I did get to Time Warp with one of my favorite Voice Actor's though. Greg Ayres Rocks!

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I can't quite remember the journey back to the underground lake. I do however remember being placed in the coffin shaped bed I had awoken in a month before. "Deja vu" I recall saying wearily.

When I finally awoke, I was met with the sight of my Angel's masked face above me. He was pressing a cold cloth against my head with the worry of a father. " Angel...Are you alright?" I said groggily.

" Quite alright, my child. You however are suffering from a minor concussion." I began to sit up, but the room was spinning so fast I let myself slump back onto the pillow in an instant. I was feeling sick, and Erik was well prepared.

He rubbed my back as the contents of my empty stomach appeared in a bowl. " You should be feeling better in a few days" He got up with a slight wobble. I could tell he was tired. " Angel, were you watching me this whole time? How long was I asleep?" He turned back to face me.

" You've been asleep for two days and yes, I was watching you. I was afraid I would lose you..." His voice faded off with the last bit. "Angel..." He sat down on the stool next to the bed again.

" Child, I would like you to know my real name. I feel it would be better than calling me Angel all of the time." I nodded, my eyes lively though my head was still spinning.

" Erik" He stated simply. " My name is Erik"

" It's a lovely name. Your mother must have taken great care in choosing it for you."

He just laughed bitterly. " Just as much care as that Raoul did when he shoved you into a concussion."

My brow furrowed. " Erik, you are just as much to blame as he. You were taunting him" I said pointedly.

" Oh, yes I am to blame for the harm that befell you!"

" Yes, you partially are!" I said, remembering my wrists. " If you only believed me when I told you how I felt and not attacked me, Raoul would have had no reason to challenge you to a fight."

Erik stared at me, not hate or love in his eyes. Just frustration. " Erik..." I said desperately raising up upon my elbows. " Lie down and sleep," He said curtly. " You need rest." I eased myself down onto the pillow as Erik left the room, drowning out his feelings with his music, I suppose.

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" Erik...Erik?" I called. All the candles were out and the only light source within the cavernous dwelling was coming from the lake. It was a sickly green light. Dim and not at all pleasing to the eyes or the nerves. Erik wasn't responding to my calls, and I felt as if I would go mad if I spent another second alone in the perpetual darkness.

" Erik, Please answer me! I'm frightened!"

No response.

"Erik!"

" My dearest Christine, what on earth are you screaming for?" Erik said from behind me, hold a candle up to his masked face. He was rubbing his drowsy eyes.

" Erik, why did you do that?" I sobbed.

" Child, I was sleeping. Why do you think all of the candle are out?"

I was still sobbing when he hugged me. He was much bolder now. Still as strong as ever. " My dearest, I know how frightening the dark is for you. I would never leave you alone." His embrace was so warm, I actually believed him.

The darkness was soothing now that Erik was holding me close. Euphoria was washing over me as I looked up into his eyes. And then it struck me. That's all I'd ever seen. His eyes. Curiosity is a dangerous thing when not controlled. I ran my fingers gently over the cheek of the mask.

" Erik... Will you... show me your face?"

He let go of my waist almost instantly, backing up a few steps. " No!" He said with terror in his voice. " Never!" He was still backing away.

" Erik please! Calm down."

" How dare you ask me to show you my face! Is it important to you! Would you like to satisfy your vanity and see!"

" Not if you're going to shout at me!" We were both in shock. Suddenly I found my back bone!

" Erik... I love you...I truly do. But, why in heavens name do you insist on hiding from me? What do you think will happen?"

I moved to hold his hand, but he backed away again. " Because, my beloved Christine, if you saw what I looked like underneath this...You would act like she did" I ventured to know who 'she' was, but I had a very good idea.

" She didn't name me after my father, you know. She named me after the priest who baptized me. She didn't want to disgrace her beloved husband by naming me Charles. So, I am Erik"

I was silently weeping. " Erik, my angel, I am not your mother. What makes you believe I would act as she did?" He looked at me.

" You are so young. So innocent. The sight of me makes grown men shrink back in fear and disgust. I can only fathom how it would be for you."

He was calmer now and I was able to grab his hand without an attempt to flee on his part. " Erik, in this type of situation, you are just going to have to trust me."

His eyes shifted from one side to the other as he thought. " I will trust you...just... please..." I nodded as he gave a nervous sigh.

The candles seemed to share my nervous anticipation as they flickered violently back and forth. With much hesitation, he reached up to the ivory mask and tucked his fingers underneath each side, pulling it off slowly.

Demonic. Revolting. Monestrous Vile. None of these words describe Erik's face. It was just sad. Tragically sad. The shock of it though was too much for me at the time. I shrunk back, shaking.

I did the one thing he begged me no to when he could only make out the words in those perfect eyes. I screamed.

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So yes, I'll update soon!

Much love and loads of Meat buns ( woot Son Goku),

Bella