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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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Recovery?
            Blackwood arched a brow when he stepped out of his carriage to find one of the maids waiting for him on the doorstep. He walked up the stairs into the house taking off his hat and outer clothing passing them off to another servant. “You have something to tell me?” He asked the maid who looked as though she had something to say but was trying to decide how to say it.
            “Lady Blackwood is awake my Lord . . .” She began stuttering slightly.
            “She’s awake?” Blackwood said not letting her finish, “Why wasn’t I sent for immediately?” He demanded to know but rather then waiting for an answer he bounded up the staircase heading for her chamber.
            When he arrived he flung the doors open and looked around to see Katherine, sitting next to her vanity in a simple day dress as the maids attended her brushing her hair. One of the doctors quickly hurried over, the only one who stayed when she woke to speak with Blackwood.
            “Why didn’t you send for me?” He demanded looking at the doctor, “I should have been informed the moment her eyes opened.” He said starting to walk towards Katherine.
            “Uh, yes. We were just getting ready to send you word, but you’re already here.” He said as he walked with Blackwood who was approaching Katherine. “As you can see, she’s doing much better now. Her color has returned, and such. It’s very promising. Except for one thing she seems quite healthy . . . . ”
            Blackwood seemed to dismiss the doctor’s presence completely not even hearing him speak as he walked close to Katherine. “Katherine,” Blackwood said calling her attention to him. Her eyes looked towards Blackwood. “How are you feeling? Are you alright?” He asked. However her eyes simply remained on him, and nothing more. He frowned at this. “What’s the matter with her? I thought you said she was better?”
            “She can’t speak, My Lord.” The doctor said having drawn the short straw to deliver the news to Blackwood. It was why the others took the opportunity to flee when everything else about her seemed fine.
            “What?” Blackwood said looking at the doctor. “What do you mean she can’t speak?”
            “She has no voice. She tried to speak before but no sound was made. Everything else about her physically seemed to have recovered. In just a few days she’ll be as right as rain.” He said trying to sound optimistic.
            “What is wrong with her VOICE.” Blackwood said wanting to get back to the matter at hand.
            The doctor paused a moment, “The part of her brain . . . that allows her to speak may have suffered irreversible damage, My Lord. It may heal in time . . . . but that chance is very small.” He admitted.
            “She’s a mute?” Blackwood said looking at Katherine seeing the look in her eyes. It was obvious she was quite upset about this and had been crying when they told her. “She can never speak again?” He questioned in shock.
            The doctor hesitated again but didn’t see any profit in lying to him. “At this moment, sir. I’m afraid that is the case. As I said there is a slim chance that she might fully recover.” Blackwood’s eyes never left Katherine’s as the shock took a moment to settle in. “The baby seems to be doing quite well, and is healthy. We will know more the further along she is.”
            “Leave us.” Blackwood said not wanting to hear the buzz of someone talking in his ear. All he heard was noise, not words. “All of you, out, NOW!” He shouted. The maids and the doctor quickly made their departure thankful for the chance to escape.
            Blackwood walked over to Katherine and kneeled down beside her looking into her eyes. “You can’t speak.” He said reaching up cupping her face in his hands. “I’ll never hear your voice again.”
            Tears started to escape her eyes as she buried her face against his hand. Blackwood still couldn’t believe it. It seemed like a dream that he couldn’t wake from. Up until now he was able to take care of her and protect her from harm. But this . . . how could he fix this?

Adjustment
            Katherine sat on the window seat that looked down into their garden, just watching a few birds flit about and play tag with each other. She was quite large now, and her hand rested on her abdomen. Two months since she had woken up in her own room, only to find that her voice was gone and she once again shared Blackwood’s bed.
            Reciting spells at the ceremonies and rituals was obviously impossible for her now. All she could do was stand by and participate however Blackwood instructed her to. The only way she could talk with someone, hold a conversation was with pen and paper. She could still read and write quite well, and nothing else seemed to be affected by the fever she suffered, except being unable to speak.
            Apparently, guilt was something that Blackwood felt quite extensively. The woman who had participated in the ritual that took place the night Katherine fled disappeared without a trace. Every possible moment she could be with him, he made certain that she was even the nights when she wasn’t needed for rituals and would simply observe. He ordered the doctors to check on her nearly every day and look for any sign that her voice might come back, but there was no improvement.
            Blackwood opened the door of the room having been looking for Katherine. There was no point in calling out for her, she couldn’t answer him to make her whereabouts known. He closed the door and walked over to her. She had fallen into an understandable depression even though she had adjusted quite well to her life of silence.
            He kissed her head before sitting down next to her on the window seat. “It’s cold for you to be sitting against the window like this.” He said. “You should go into the library, it’s warmer there. For the both of you.” He said reaching up and resting his hand over hers as it rest on her abdomen. Slowly, she slid her hand out from under his returning her gaze to the garden below.
            “What can I do to regain your trust?” He asked. “To win back your affections?” Blackwood sighed, “I’ve apologized to you a hundred times over for my petty revenge. It was foolish and I admit that.” He stood and ran his hand over his hair in frustration. “I can only say I’m sorry.”
            Katherine sighed slightly as she turned and walked over to the table where there was a pen and some paper. She wrote something on it before handing it to him to read. Blackwood took it and sighed, “If you hadn’t left . . . If you waited for me to return, then we could have sorted it out then. And you wouldn’t be in the condition you are now.” She frowned and made a motion towards her face where he had smacked her the last time they spoke before she disappeared. “It wasn’t something I enjoyed.” He said referring to when he had hit her. “You . . . you caught me off guard that day and I reacted harshly.”
            The young woman made a few more motions with her hands and arms. Understanding what she was saying he reached out and grasped her hands in his. “And I’ve told you, over and over that it was nothing more than a dream.” He said. “Caleb is alive and well and there is nothing to be concerned about. There couldn’t be two of him, Katherine. It’s impossible.”
            She took her hands from his and crossed her arms over her turning and pacing a bit showing how frustrated she was. “You don’t intend to forgive me for my transgression do you.”
            Katherine turned towards him and made a few gestures with her arms. The desperation and confusion in her face tended to speak volumes more. “Then why do you keep me at a distance? How can you learn to forgive me if you remain so cold towards me?” She placed her hands over her chest where her heart was, and the pain filled look in her eyes answered his question. “I didn’t mean to break your heart.” He said softly.
            The door of the room opened and a maid stepped in. “Tea is ready.” She said with a curtsy before leaving the room. Blackwood turned back towards Katherine to say something else but she held her hand up indicating that she didn’t want to speak anymore and walked passed him to go to tea. Blackwood watched her go, never having felt so conflicted or at a loss for what to do about the entire situation.

Birthing Pains
            Having heard her screams and cries with their first three sons, none of which were more chilling then the dead silence he heard now. No sound, nothing until he heard the cry of a baby after being promptly smacked on the bum.
            He sat in his study listening, waiting. It wasn’t long before a man came in and whispered to him before leaving the study. Coward who was in the study as well, waited to hear the news.
            “Four sons,” He said plainly. Coward felt an overwhelming sense of relief at this news, doing his best not to let it show.
            “What shall you name this one, My Lord?” He asked.
            Blackwood was quiet a moment before answering. “It will be announced once Katherine and I have discussed it.”
            The way he said that, made Coward look away slightly. The fact that she had been unable to speak since her return was a widely known fact in the order even though she didn’t go out of her way to display it. She hadn’t recited a word or read a passage and merely attended rituals with her husband.
            “Now that she’s given birth . . . will you refer to the spell books to help her?” He asked changing the subject slightly.
            “When she is fully recovered.” He stated simply. “Then we’ll summon the powers to help her.”

Spell Casting
            It seemed as though conventional medicine was doing nothing, so Blackwood decided to try a different method. A ritual was held specifically to cast a spell that could return Katherine’s voice to her.
            The ceremony was called at midnight, deep in the oldest part of the catacombs. As Katherine was the one the spell was being cast on, she was on her knees at the center of the pentagram drawn in black wax on the floor. Four of the men who were next in rank to Blackwood in the order stood on four points of the star, and Blackwood stood at the longest point reading from the spell book.
            At mid point in the ceremony, when flesh was cut and blood dripped from the five members over the circle and around Katherine, Blackwood recited a few more incantations before handing Katherine a cup. It was filled with wine that had other ingredients from the spell mixed in. As he read, she drank the contents of the cup and then passed it to someone who was waiting to take it.
            Next, Blackwood held a small vile between his fingers reading more incantations from the book, as Katherine closed her eyes feeling warm and weightless somehow. Then when Blackwood came to a pause in his reading, Katherine opened her mouth and he poured the contents of the vile down her throat. It was vile tasting, and if she hadn’t been already somewhat subdued by the wine she was given, she could have very well vomited it right back. But the taste remained and she felt like she was spinning.
            Blackwood continued to read, but Katherine was falling further and further into a strange sort of trance. She spread her arms open wide as her head leaned back and she looked as though she was swaying in a circle. Then, as Blackwood finished the final rights and the chanting began to subside, Katherine collapsed to the floor completely in darkness.

Updates
            “Are you done vomiting yet?” Holmes asked looking at Watson’s letter.
            “Good God, man.” Watson said walking back into the room with Holmes looking somewhat pale wiping his face with a wet cloth. “Doesn’t it turn your stomach?”
            “It’s blood.” Holmes said looking at Watson, “Just blood. Not even human. Although I wouldn’t put it past Blackwood to use human blood, I don’t think he would feed it to his wife for any reason.”
            “Bat and Dove’s blood is just so much better isn’t it.” Watson said sarcastically.
            “So can her ingesting these things harm her or are you just being squeamish?” Holmes inquired.
            “I think you’re enjoying this.” Watson observed in annoyance tossing down the towel.
            “I simply find it amusing that a man who can literally open up the body of a human being, poke around and even remove elements before sewing it back up, is becoming ill over reading a simple sentence of “ he looked at the letter again wanting to quote it correctly, ‘she was given a mixture of bat’s blood with dove’s blood harvested earlier in the day for the ritual.” He said looking at Watson who seemed as though he was starting to turn green again.
            “There are certain things human beings aren’t meant to do, and drinking blood from any creature is right at the top of the list.” He said.
            “How is it any different from eating a rare steak?” Holmes said.
            “Really Holmes. It’s not the same thing and you know it.” Watson replied.
            “Alright well . . . . so conventional medicine hasn’t worked for them. They are attempting to ‘seek favor from the Gods’ now.” He said sarcastically. “Whatever makes them feel better about their lot in life. It’s up to them really.”
            “It’s disgusting and perverse. She does whatever he says still, takes what he gives her without question, and now he’s pouring all sorts of vile things down her throat in an attempt to ‘fix her’. Amazing really.” Watson sighed.
            “And even with that, we’re no closer to putting an end to Blackwood then we were before. So what now then, good doctor?” Holmes said.
            “Unless he abducts and sacrifices the daughter of a royal or a princess, I don’t see how.” Watson said.
            “Not something we especially hope for.” Holmes replied.
            “You asked me what it would take, that’s all I can come up with. He’s dug into England like a tick.”
            “I suggest we put a bit more thought into this then.” Holmes stood from his seat and went to repack his pipe.

Roses
            Katherine returned to her room to find almost a forest of roses filling almost every corner. The aroma of fresh cut roses filled her every sense as she walked in looking around in awe.
            “Are they still your favorite?” Katherine turned to see Blackwood standing behind her. As though he appeared out of nowhere. Her eyes looked around the room at the beautiful crimson roses. Of course they were still her favorite. “I thought you could do with a bit of cheering up.”
            Katherine paused a moment and looked at Blackwood again suspiciously. Cheer her up? He’d never tried to do that before. It had always been take what you’re given and deal with your issues on your own. He had to have been up to something.
            Blackwood walked closer to her and looked into her eyes. “Spells take time, Katherine. Like any other method. There is still a chance your voice could return.” He said reaching up and touching her cheek. “Don’t give up. I’ll continue to do what I can, and you must fight to do so as well.” She knew he was right and turned her eyes downward giving a simple nod. Blackwood stroked her cheek a moment, before leaning forward and placing a tender kiss on her lips.
            After a moment, the kiss turned a bit more passionate as his hand slid into her hair pulling her closer. Katherine returned his affections a little bit, thinking there was no harm in doing so. When his other arm started to wrap around her body to pull her against him, Katherine rolled her eyes and threw his arms off her. She knew he was up to something, how could she possibly be surprised it was this.
            He sighed looking at her darkly. She pointed in the direction the nursery was, before holding up four fingers and then making a gesture that meant ‘that was enough ’and ‘no more’.
            “Hmm. Made that decision all on your own did you.” She crossed her arms and looked at him defiantly. “I’ve shown you nothing but compassion since you were brought back, lying at deaths door. Even though your taking off with our sons is what caused you to lose your voice in the first place. But I warned you once not to test me, Katherine. How many times were you shown that defiance was unwise?”
            Now the frustration was returning to her face as she put her hand over her throat, and made a motion that indicated she couldn’t speak wanting to know why he thought she could communicate her feelings in any other way but defiance.
            “I have a better idea. How about you be a good girl, and don’t defy me and I won’t have to reacquaint you with being treated as an object instead of my wife.” He said his look beginning to darken the longer this conversation lasted. Katherine threw her hands up in frustration and turned away from him.
            Blackwood stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her leaning his face to her cheek and pulling her tight against him. “I don’t want to hurt you, Katherine. I never have. At times your behavior forces me to act harshly . . . but it’s not because I enjoy it.” He kissed her neck holding her even tighter against him. “Now, I haven’t touched you since before our son was born . . . you’ve had more than enough time to recover and the doctors say you’re perfectly healthy . . . so no more excuses.” He said kissing her neck and then her shoulder.
            Katherine didn’t want him to touch her at all. Every time he did she found herself starring back down into the catacombs watching him with that woman. She had known about his transgression before, but witnessing it was completely different. She couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen. Her eyes moved around the forest of roses that he had given her, realizing that perhaps he was at least attempting to make amends.
            The cold hard fact of it was, it didn’t matter if she forgave him or not. It didn’t matter if she wanted him to touch her or not. He was stronger than her and she had nowhere to go, nowhere to run and hide. And with her voice gone, how was she even to protest against this.
            With a soft sigh, she turned around in his arms as if surrendering herself. It seemed the lesser of two evils to simply cooperate with him. Blackwood touched her chin, turning her face up towards his. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips before looking into her eyes. “See? That’s much better. Isn’t it.” He half smiled seeing that she was going to do as he wanted, and wrapped his arms around her kissing her passionately.

Letters
            Katherine had taken up writing extensively. If she wasn’t writing in a journal, she was writing letter after letter, and she always tried to keep paper and pen on her person at all times so she could communicate clearly if someone didn’t understand her. But every day she could, she tried something new that might help her find her voice again. Weather it was an herb, a tonic, a chemical, a medication, or a spell.
            Sometimes she would become so frustrated with herself and not being able to communicate how she wanted, she would lock herself away in a room not wanting to be around anyone. Then she would return to writing whatever came into her mind. Blackwood didn’t seem concerned about it, as long as she did as she was told.
            Her biggest frustration was the children. She couldn’t speak to them, couldn’t sing to them, and couldn’t help Gabriel and Michael who had begun their lessons. It was like she was trapped in her own mind and couldn’t find a way out.
            Now that it was spring, Katherine spent a lot of time walking through the garden and reading by herself as there didn’t seem to be much else to do. Every once in a while though, she would suddenly become terrified for no other reason except the thought passed her mind that she might be pregnant again. God knew that there wasn’t a night that went by Blackwood didn’t indulge before they retired. Without her voice, her life seemed almost unbearable compared to before. Not that Blackwood really ever listened to what she had to say, but at least she could say it and fool herself into thinking it mattered.
            The rituals were just as hard for her to attend. She would simply stand by holding something until Blackwood needed it and she would give it to him. Something that was usually taken care of by his minions, but since he wanted her close and she couldn’t help recite and read from the books, it was something she was given to do. Not that she missed being such an active participant in the ceremonies unless Blackwood’s wife was required she just attended and nothing more.
            Her letters were a bit sparse at first, but then she had a stack of them to send out every day. One of the servants came in each morning to collect them and post them for her. Unfortunately, Blackwood apparently took the letters that day to see who it was she was corresponding with. Most of them were pretty general and mundane. The editor of the news paper, a few authors of books, some politicians in America for no other reason then to simply have someone to write to. At least she still had a voice in letters. There was one letter addressed to a person, or persons that he was very unhappy to see. He let the others be posted but took this one up to the library where Katherine was reading.
            “What is this?” He said coming from behind her and tossing the letter down on the table beside her. Katherine closed her book and picked up the letter reading the names and rolled her eyes slightly putting her book down as she stood. “Katherine . . . do I ask so much of you?” He questioned with a stern look on her face. “They are the very reason we fought the night before you disappeared. They are what started this entire mess! How can you still be keeping in contact with them?” He asked.
            Katherine frowned and showed him the letter with a look of slight confusion as to why he was so threatened by this. It was simply a letter, nothing more. No secrets, no plans, no requests for anything. Just a regular letter updating on how she was and the boys were. She didn’t even make mention of Blackwood.
            “Mortal enemies.” He stated. “You’re well educated you should know what that means.” He growled.
            She shook her head and broke the seal on the letter taking it out and unfolding it holding it out for him to read if he was so upset thinking she was going behind his back. Blackwood snatched it from her hands in a crumpled wad, “It DOESN’T matter what you wrote! You shouldn’t be writing to them at all. Any excuse, anything they can use against me, they will. Perhaps you see nothing wrong in these letters, but Holmes will take all sorts of things away from it in a phrase or a stroke of your pen.”
            ‘They helped us’ she mouthed slowly so he could read her lips and understand what she said.
            “You hired them, for a great sum of money. They did their job, but the job is long since over and I don’t want you to continue contacting them.” He said crumpling up the paper even more before throwing it to the floor. “They’ve now gone back to their task of finding something to put my neck back in the noose.”
            Katherine shook her head and motioned with her hands mouthing words at the same time wishing she could speak more than anything right now. ‘you haven’t done anything wrong or illegal in months, there is no reason for them to come after you. They stopped asking me to help them a long time ago’.
            “One thing you need to learn about Sherlock Holmes is that he doesn’t quit until he solves his puzzle. He’s just waiting for me to slip up somehow.” Blackwood said irritated that this was still going on.
            Katherine studied him for a moment before walking closer studying his face. ‘What’s wrong?’. She mouthed noticing that he seemed quite stressed and upset about something. It wasn’t just her letter to Holmes and Watson. Blackwood just glared at her before turning and leaving the library slamming the doors behind without an answer.
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Dark Rituals