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Dark Rituals	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: S through Z > Sherlock Holmes (2009) > Sherlock Holmes (2009) Views: 3327 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I in no way own any rights to or make any profit from Sherlock Holmes the book, the movie, or any other medium concerning these characters. This is a non-profit story for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter List
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Intrusion
            Katherine thought it a bit strange when Blackwood hadn’t been home all day. Usually he prepared for hours before performing a ritual. Yet today, she hadn’t seen him at all. He was already gone when she woke.
            She went into the nursery to see her boys and smiled brightly to see them all awake and about even though they shouldn’t have been. “It’s well past their bedtime.” She told the young girl who was now in their service to attend the children as she walked over and picked up Caleb. “They should be asleep.” Katherine said.
            “I’m sorry Miss; dinner was a bit late this evening.” The young woman said in a thick cockney accent. “Gabriel and Michael didn’t seem as though they were ready for sleep.”
            “Something you’re going to have to learn, Mary is that children will never think they are ready to sleep. But you can’t simply let them run until they drop.” Katherine kissed Caleb’s head before motioning for Mary to bring the other two boys and she would help get them ready for bed.
            A short while later, with the children put to sleep Katherine saw the time. Henry still wasn’t home and they would be due before too long to arrive in the catacombs. “Stay close to them, Mary. If anything seems strange or out of the ordinary call for the guards at once. My boys are my life, and mean the world to me.” She warned. Mary gave a nod and sat down by the fireplace with her cross-stitch hoop.
            Katherine went back and changed into proper attire for the evening, and began to wonder if Lord Blackwood simply went straight to the meeting instead of coming home to get her first. With a soft sigh, she decided perhaps it was best if she was on her way. If Henry wasn’t there yet he would arrive at some point. He would have to, considering he was the head of the order.
            When she arrived at the Catacomb entrance, she found the guards that kept a close watch on the entrance already in place. She gathered her skirts and headed down the long and winding stone staircase, pausing for a moment to make her identity known to the guard who stood watch at the wooden door at the bottom. Turning, he unlocked the door and let her go through closing it and locking it back again.
            She made her way down the long stone hallway where the torches were already lit to light the way. Katherine was certain she wasn’t late, and all of this seemed a bit odd. Coming to the end of the hallway, she stopped looking down into the large opening of the center of the catacombs where they conducted their ceremonies. She stood perfectly still, frozen as she looked downward into the pit.
            It was a familiar ritual, one that she had been made to participate in on occasion no matter how uncomfortable it made her. But it was what Blackwood demanded of her and she did as he told her to do. Now, as she looked down into the ritual that was already well underway, she found her husband performing his part with a woman who was not his wife. Also, unlike before, this woman was a practitioner.
            Katherine was stunned at the sight and couldn’t move much less make a sound. When she was finally able to pry her eyes away, she took a breath and turned gathering her skirts hurrying back out the way she had come.

Unforgiven
            It was nearly morning before Blackwood returned to his home, it wouldn’t be long before the sun came up. Once he arrived in his bedchamber he began to take of his jacket but paused noticing something off. He wasn’t sure what it was about the room but something wasn’t right. Putting his jacket aside he removed his gloves and unbuttoned his vest. Suddenly, it dawned on him. It was quiet. Usually he could hear Katherine’s breath when she was asleep, but it was dead silent in the room.
            He looked towards the bed a moment but he couldn’t see anything, it was far to dark. So he walked around to her side and threw the covers back to find it unoccupied and unslept in. Now he could tell something was decidedly wrong, and headed to the nursery to see if she simply wanted to stay with the boys tonight.
            When he arrived, he threw the double doors open to find that the two guards that were put on the nursery doors were lying unconscious across each other, and the fireplace held nothing but cinders not having been fed or tended to since the night before.
            “KATHERINE!!!!” He roared when he discovered that the boys too were missing. His voice rang through the halls as every servant in the house was woken and lights started to go on in many of the rooms. Blackwood had a distinct feeling of the reason she ran, although he never intended for her to see or know of his petty revenge for her disobedience and their argument. It was the reason he had left her at home, and hadn’t spoken to her the entire day. Yet she was diligent about being on time and where she was supposed to be always. The guards at the catacombs had said a woman had come but left just as quickly. Perhaps their letting her in, knowing who she was, was the reason they neglected to say it was Katherine herself.
            This meant trouble, and he could only think of one place she would flee to and find help. “Holmes.” He growled under his breath.

Break-In
            Holmes was woken by the most unpleasant rude awakening. Someone had grabbed his ankle while he slept and jerked him from bed, causing him to hit his head on the floor. Then he was gathered up between two men who brought him to his feet. He started to struggle a bit dazed by the knock in the head but stopped when he saw that Watson was also restrained by two more men nearby. Guns were pointed at each of them by several others. Needless to say, they were both captured and well covered so there was no real point in struggling.
            When the room had settled down a bit, Blackwood appeared from what seemed like nowhere and glared at Holmes. “God forbid you knock!” Holmes yelled. “I didn’t know the devil made house calls.”
            Blackwood was less then amused and just stared at Holmes. “Where is she, Holmes.” He demanded in a stern voice.
            “Where is who, you maniac!” Watson shouted just as upset about the horrid display and intrusion that led to this scene.
            Holmes just starred at Blackwood for a moment, who glared right back at him. “Katherine.” Holmes said realizing there was only one person he could be there looking for, but also stunned that she was missing and they hadn’t heard from her. “I take it she’s not with you then.”
            A fist from one of the men came hard across Holmes face dropping him to his knees. They brought him back to his feet before Blackwood making sure that Sherlock was looking at him. “I haven’t time for your games, Holmes. But I am more than happy to watch as you’re beaten to a quivering mass before I depart.”
            Another punch came to his kidneys, causing him to wince and gasp for air.“I don’t know where she is. Neither of us does. We’ve had no word from her since your blasted dinner party.” Holmes said between labored breaths.
            Blackwood knew he was telling the truth, just from the shock that showed in both his and Watson’s eyes when they found Katherine was missing. Yet he couldn’t simply kill them. Not now. If she hadn’t contacted them yet, she still might and it would be a missed opportunity not to keep the two men under close guard. They could lead him to her. Blackwood glanced at Lord Coward before he turned and exited. Coward gave a nod to the thugs who immediately started beating on Holmes until he fell to the floor blacked out.

Missing Persons
            “She can’t have just disappeared. She has no one to go to, nowhere to run.” Blackwood said standing at the window in his study. They had swept the city, several times over the past week since she and the children disappeared and couldn’t even find a trace. Having returned to the guards who had seen her that night, they confirmed that it was indeed Katherine who had left so abruptly without another word. She had seen the shameful display of willful betrayal in the catacombs.
            “We’ll continue the search, question everyone again. There must be a clue as to where she had gone. Someone must have seen something.” Coward said.
            “Really.” Blackwood said thinking that statement unbelievably naive. “She has been trained in secrecy. Taught how to be invisible in plain sight. To defend herself if attacked, to kill if necessary. Now she has taken our children with her, she’ll be as a lioness watching over her cubs when they were stolen away from us already.” He turned looking at coward. “She is the seer, Coward. I don’t posses even a whisper of her gifts. I have no idea where she has gone, and if she doesn’t want to be found . . . I’ve no doubt it will be nearly impossible unless she makes a mistake.”
            “Why would she run like this? She was in no danger.” Coward said stepping out on a limb a bit. To be honest, he wasn’t sure if she was in danger or not, but he did know of the fate of the daughter that had been born alongside their son Caleb. It had haunted him since the day it happened, but he said nothing and remained loyal to his master.
            “I’m sure there were a number of reasons in her mind.” Blackwood said not truly accepting any of the blame for any of this. “Keep searching. This is the first time she has ever been completely on her own. She’s sure to make some sort of mistake, and I intend that we be there when she does.”
            Coward gave a slight bow before turning and leaving Blackwood alone.

Sightings and Whispers
            “There are hundreds of witches and gypsy’s roaming England. All of which are con artists and thieves without having the gift. How can you be sure that the woman you saw was Lady Blackwood?” Coward asked one of the followers who had brought news.
            “Because she didn’t ask for money, and there was no gain to be had for herself. Simply a warning for the person she told what she foresaw then she, the young girl and three children she was traveling with disappeared. It must have been her.” The man said.
            “Lord Blackwood will require more information than that. I suggest you go into deeper detail.” Coward said.
            When Lord Coward made his report to Lord Blackwood, an uneasy moment of silence passed between the two men. Some of the details that were given seemed rather odd and sudden. “She’s only been gone a few weeks.” Blackwood said before a smile swept his face. “This is excellent.”
            “My Lord?” Coward said not seeing how any of this helped get them any closer to finding Katherine and the boys.
            “She’s being overwhelmed now that she’s outside the safety of our walls. She’s not choosing or struggling to see visions of the past, present or future anymore. Now they’re invading her every waking moment.” He said. “The worse it becomes, the less careful she’ll be. She may even return of her own accord.”
            “But if she’s seeing such things so easily now, then won’t she see the fate of her daughter as well.” Blackwood’s look darkened as he turned his gaze towards Coward. He was forbidden to ever speak of that, and Blackwood had also noted how uneasy it made him each time the subject was touched upon. He was not pleased with that.
            “If that’s the case, then it will be dealt with. She is old enough now not to be so naïve, and weak.” Blackwood said not wanting to speak of this.
            “What about the report that says she was seeking advice from a doctor?” Coward asked.
            “I found that one interesting.” He commented. “I suppose there could be some credibility there. But I won’t know for certain until she’s returned to me. It may also aid in her recovery.”
            “With the difficulty she’s experienced in the past, pregnancy away from our doctors could spell danger.” Coward mentioned.
            “Then I suggest we make haste in recovering her then.” Blackwood said motioning for him to leave and get back to work.

Bandages
            Holmes held his arms up as Watson rewrapped his middle tightly with long strips of cotton bandaging. “This is ridiculous. How long is this going to take to mend.” Holmes said a bit irritated that he was still in pain.
            “They cracked and broke four of your ribs, Holmes. You’re lucky you’re alive at all.” Watson said. The doctors own bruises around his eye were nearly gone having taken quite a beating himself. “Still no word on Katherine, or from Katherine herself. I suppose we should be grateful for that, as it is most likely the only reason we’re not six feet under.”
            “Yes well. If my sources are correct, she may return before long as it is.” Watson made sure the bandaging was secure before reaching for Holmes shirt and tossing it to him to put it back on. “She was angry, hurt, and upset and that was the only reasons she ran in the first place.”
            “Who can blame her?” Watson said. “Blackwood isn’t exactly the model husband, but she had put all her trust in him. He betrayed her.”
            “Maybe. But she hadn’t stopped to consider the consequences of her departure either. She literally had nowhere to go when she left. No family, no friends, even the church itself, the very entity which raised her, was a dangerous place now they consider her to be a sin of epic proportions. She wasn’t thinking clearly.” Holmes explained.
            “She’s strong and resourceful. Who knows what she can accomplish if she puts her mind to it.” Watson hesitated a moment knowing Holmes beliefs on the subject, which is why it didn’t come up very often and was quickly glossed over. “And she most likely can tell of any impending danger, with fair warning.”
            “I thought we had discussed this.” Holmes said rolling his eyes at Watson. “Mind tricks are what Blackwood and his order specializes in. You’re being willfully naive if you think she hasn’t learned one or two of his skills.”
            “And her eyes?” Watson said. “How do you explain the rapid color change in her eyes? I can’t, and I’m a doctor.”
            “If you feel that this is a supernatural phenomenon then that is by all means your privilege to do so. I however, disagree and I’m nearly certain that it’s a trick of some kind.” Holmes said.
            “Nearly?” Watson questioned.
            “I can’t rule out any possibilities completely.” He admitted.
            “Either way, Blackwood will think he’s due back any time now to ‘inquire’ if we’ve received any word from her. I think precautions should be taken.” He said.
            “By all means. I can’t say I’m in favor of such a harsh wakeup call a second time.” Holmes agreed.

Unexpected Surprises
            Like your typical rainy and stormy night, water seemed to down pour with no end in sight, and lightning and thunder shook the windows and walls of the house. Blackwood was taking this opportunity to prepare and practice a few spells that called for such a night.
            Suddenly, the doors of his study burst open and one of the servants hurried in. “My Lord, come quickly!” He said.
            When Blackwood arrived, there were four drenched figures standing in the foyer of his home. The three smaller ones he recognized right off, but the forth he’d only seen on seldom occasions since she’d come into their service. He approached her and jerked the hood back from her head. Her hair was wet, and she shivered from the cold rain. “Where is your mistress.” He demanded.
            The maids and other servants hustled the boys away to get them out of their wet things and bathed, before getting them into dry clean clothes. However Blackwood kept the girl in the foyer wanting to know why Katherine wasn’t with them. “What is this? Why have you returned with my sons and not my wife?”
            “She was to sickly to travel sir. The last time she spoke anything understandable, she insisted that I bring the boys back home to you.” She said through chattering teeth.
            “What are you talking about? Where is she?” He said not liking the sound of this report in the slightest. Mary just frowned not wanting to say, but she had little choice seeing as how she was not unaware of this man’s reputation. Katherine had told her over and over why they couldn’t be found since they had absconded two months ago.
            “She’s very sick sir. She’s in a hospital on the other side of Wales with a fever.” Her eyes turned downcast. “They don’t expect her to live another week.” Blackwood’s eyes went wide at this news. He spun around on his heel and started barking out orders in every direction causing the servants to scramble. He turned back towards Mary and looked at her darkly.
            “Get changed into dry clothes and be prepared to take me there within the hour.” He said before turning and rushing up the stairs.

Illness
            When Blackwood and the physicians of the order arrived, the word ‘hospital’ as Mary had called it might have been far too generous. It was the medical care wing of an asylum that looked as though it’s funding had long since run dry. It was no wonder Katherine’s condition was worsening considering the conditions.
            They immediately moved her from the ward when it was decided her illness was not a catching one and they took her back to the manor. Blackwood knew that he would find her again, but never considered he would find her in this condition.
            “Well?” He demanded when the physicians who had seen to her care in the past came from the room.
            “She should be able to rest now; we’ve given her strong sedatives and medications to combat the fever.” One reported. “Keeping her temperature from climbing again is what’s important now.”
            “What of the boys?” He asked.
            “They are all perfectly healthy. A bit tired and confused, but they have all been well taken care of.” Another said.
            “How could they be so healthy and she fallen so far?” Blackwood inquired.
            “You know of her condition?” The doctor asked.
            “A suspicion. It’s true then. She is with child.” He said.
            “Yes. There is no doubt that she herself knew of it. She should have sought help from someone long before now. They’ll both have to fight this out now on their own. We’ve given all the aid we can.” He said with a grim look that the other doctors shared.
            “Why do you all seem to share the same apprehension. What have you not told me?” Blackwood questioned not liking the way they seemed to be hesitating to tell him anything.
            “There is no guarantee . . . if she pulls through that she’ll be the same my Lord.” One brave soul managed to find his voice and speak up. “Her fever was 105 when we began treating her. She could be mentally damaged from the illness.”
            Blackwood just stared at the men, speechless. What was there to say to that, what could he say? “How long until you can prove that?” He demanded.
            “She has to wake up first.” One of the men said. “Until her fever is broken . . . we won’t know anything for sure.”
            Another eerie silence passed before Blackwood spoke again. “No,” He said in a low tone. “All of you return to her chambers. Take care of her. Whatever it takes to make her well again.” He said.
            The men took the opportunity to flee his company even if it was just into the next room with the sick woman who could either die or wake at any moment. Blackwood couldn’t believe this, this was the true definition of a nightmare.

Diagnosis
            “So?” Holmes said waiting for Watson to read the letter he received from his unnamed ‘source’ in the order.
            “So, she’s having round the clock care. She still hasn’t woken up, and the doctors who attend her are getting nervous. So much so that they’ve been sending out letters to various medical professionals all over the country and even to other parts of Europe to seek advice.” Watson reported.
            “What do you suppose it is.” He asked.
            “I’m just guessing, mind you. I haven’t seen her and I’m only going on the facts we’re privy to.” Watson explained before giving a hypothesis. “Her immune system seems to be somewhat deficient. It’s at it’s worse when it’s having to sustain a second life.”
            “When she’s pregnant.” Holmes said.
            “Yes. So when she fled from a clean and controlled environment into the unknown of England, where I’m certain she wasn’t in the best of care and cleanest of places, her bodies defenses were less then adequate to protect itself, thus resulting in her contracting the disease.” It was clear he had been thinking about this for some time on his own.
            “And now that she is once again in the hands of the finest medical minds in England . . . present company excepted,” He added. “Will she recover?”
            Watson wasn’t certain of that point and looked back into the letter to read the update he had received. “It could still go either way Holmes.” He said.
            “Any chance those whose care she is in, has already come up with the same conclusion?” He asked.
            “I don’t know. But I’ll certainly send word of my suspicion immediately. Perhaps it can help in some way if they haven’t already thought of it.” He said turning to find some paper and a pen.
            “At some point you are going to have to explain to me the soft spot you seem to harbor for this young woman.” Holmes said still amazed to find his friend cared so much after all this time.
            “I wish I knew.” He said. “I don’t think I could care for her more if she was my own true sister.” He said indicating the nature of his affection for her, so Holmes wouldn’t confuse it with something else.
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Dark Rituals