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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
- 17
- 18
- 19
Unrealistic
            Katherine’s hands shook slightly and she had to put the letter aside. Just holding it in her hands made her uneasy, even though it was only paper. She looked at the box sitting on the table that had come with it just starring at it.
            She’d received an unmarked letter and a parcel in the post today. At least she thought it was in the post, the maid who brought it to her didn’t say. When she opened and read the contents of the letter, she found that it was signed by ‘Richard’. Known better to her and her husband as Lord Hawks.
            The small box contained a broach that was absolutely stunning. A cross studded with small diamonds that made it shimmer in light, and in the middle at the crux was a beautiful ruby cut in the shape of a blooming rose. It must have been worth a fortune. What was more, it was a symbol of the Temple of the Four orders. The crucified rose was one of the first figures she’d learned about.
            What was disturbing was the fact that she had received the gift in the first place. The letter contained what she supposed was meant as an explanation. He had had the broach made and sent it to her as a thank you for helping him escape and no doubt saving his life. She didn’t know what to do, or what to say and continued to stare at it. Her throat felt dry and it felt like a dream she couldn’t wake herself from.
            Katherine had thought that she’d made it clear in the dungeon that she was helping him in exchange for his accepting her solution. That his release meant the killing would end and that life would go back to normal without fear of waking the next day to find another horrifying atrocity had been committed.
            For a short time, she felt as though she couldn’t tell Henry about this. He would be furious and perhaps become angry with her when he was already suspicious of the whole affair. But that thought soon passed, as she knew if she tried to hide it, it would only come back later to haunt her. Blackwood had said on more than one occasion how useless she was at lying to him.
            “What is it that couldn’t wait until we retired for the evening.” Blackwood asked as he came into their room. When Katherine had decided what she was going to do, she sent a servant to go and request Lord Blackwood to come to her. It was important and nearly urgent.
            Standing from the table, she picked up the letter and the closed box walking over and handing it to him. “This came for me today.” She said truthfully. Blackwood arched a brow and took the letter reading it over. His eyes darkened as he read the name signed to it. It was completely informal, and very familiar. He glanced up at Katherine before turning his attention to the box as he opened it looking at the object it held. “Why would he send me this?” She questioned.
            “Something I should like to know.” Blackwood said just glaring at her. Katherine sighed in frustration seeing that her telling him up front didn’t seem to help in the slightest. “He signs it rather personally, doesn’t he.”
            “I don’t understand why he sent me this.” She said in her defense, “Why he would go to all this trouble for a matter I thought was settled the night of his release?”
            “It’s obvious, isn’t it. He appears to have developed some feeling for you.” Blackwood said quite annoyed now that his earlier suspicions were confirmed about Hawks. “Agreeing to somewhat outrageous demands, agreeing to disappear and ‘share’ what I was after in the first place, and now sending you expensive gifts.” He said holding up the box.
            “Henry.” She said looking at him seriously. “I’m married. You are my husband, the father of my children. I know that and he knows that as well. I would never betray you in such a way.” Her last words were somewhat of an unintentional dig at him, considering his betrayal to her had never really sat well or was forgotten.
            “I will leave instructions that anything resembling this not be accepted or brought into this house again. To have it immediately sent back with whoever brought it in the first place.” He said snapping the box closed. “As for you, if you so much as think about contacting him again for any reason, pregnant or not I may forget myself and lose my temper.” He warned.
            Contacting Hawks had never even crossed her mind, she had no reason to do so and she wouldn’t. Not after everything that had happened. She gave an obedient nod and as Blackwood turned and stormed out slamming the door behind him.

Complicated
            “Do you understand?” Lord Coward asked having gone over everything for the third time.
            “No.” Katherine answered more confused now than ever. Coward sighed becoming a little agitated himself, feeling as though he had been quite clear. “What is it exactly I’m expected to do?” She said giving him a starting point this time. “I can’t be part of a blood-letting, not while I’m expecting. The doctors have made it extremely clear that I could become ill from participating in that while I’m with child.”
            “Indeed. Which is why you hold the knife yourself, and others make the offering.” He answered. “We would never ask you to do anything that would endanger you or your child.”
            “So what your saying is I simply stand at the circle holding a knife.” She said arching a brow thinking that it would have just been easier to say that.
            “And you perform the bloodletting while Lord Blackwood reads from the book.” He explained. Katherine became quiet and just stared at him.
            “Are you saying that . . . you intend to have me . . . cut people’s flesh?” She asked in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”
            “You’ve been at these sorts of rituals before. You know what’s involved and have even made offerings of your own.” He said.
            “Why must I do this? I’ve never had to take so active a role in the rituals. I’m not a doctor I could injure someone, they could bleed to death.” She said in horror at the thought.
            “The cuts aren’t that deep. And you must do this because you are Lord Blackwood’s priestess. You hold an important position in the order, and it is your duty to aid in the initiation of these men into their new stations.” Coward said. “Besides, Lord Blackwood feels that with your gift that you may foresee betrayal and deceit in these men’s hearts. I’m sure you understand how important it is to know these things.”
            “How is my cutting them with a blade suppose to prove that they’re loyal and true? Are their thoughts and feelings supposed to spill out with their blood?” She was still quite horrified at the entire thing. “I can read them just as well if I simply touch them, why must I hurt them to find out?”
            Coward paused a moment, “Well . . .” he seemed a bit hesitant of going further, but decided it was best. “Lord Blackwood thinks it would be the perfect time to test that theory. Since you’ll be doing this service anyway.”
            Katherine felt a gagging feeling in the back of her throat and had to hold her hand to her mouth a moment in case vomiting resulted from the image that just popped into her mind. “Lord Coward . . .” She began, “I really don’t think having access to . . . the inside of persons body is going to bring me clarity . . . these men are not packages. It’s not as though what’s inside of them won’t be truly known until they are opened.” She rested her hand on her belly, as her little one was very active today. Every once in a while it would kick hard enough that Katherine couldn’t breathe a moment and felt light headed.
            “Are you alright, My Lady?” Coward asked seeing the change in her expression.
            “He’s strong this one.” She said softly taking a deep breath to regain her focus. “Look . . . Edward, I’m not trying to be as difficult as it may seem. It’s not in my nature to harm people this way, or in anyway. You know this as well as anyone. Besides, I don’t think my being sick in the middle of the sacred pentagram is going to endear me to any of our new circle.” She said softly.
            “All the same, Lord Blackwood is insisting.” Coward wished there was something he could do to get her out of it, but it’s not as though it was up to him on any count. Blackwood was busy with other matters, and still somewhat annoyed with her over the whole Hawks episode so he instructed Lord Edward Coward to explain what she was meant to do in the upcoming ceremony.
            Katherine sighed and gave a nod understanding that perfectly.

Sleet and Hail
            “Nasty weather tonight.” Holmes commented as he looked at the window. It was raining so hard that the view was completely obscured. The rain was freezing like ice, and the accompanying wind blew it in every direction.
            “It is the season for it.” Watson said his feet crossed on a stool as he read his newspaper. “There will be snow soon and at least it will land on the ears a bit better.”
            “I like the sound of rain.” Holmes said. “I find it rather relaxing.”
            A knock came to the door catching the two men’s attention, “Doctor?” She said not wanting to disturb him. Holmes walked over to the door and opened it, and as soon as the woman saw him a look of disgust and disappointment to see him swept her face. She’d assumed the doctor was in his rooms alone tonight, but wasn’t to surprised that Holmes was keeping him company.
            “Yes, Nanny?” Holmes said. “Something we can help you with?”
            “There is a wet and cold young woman down in the parlor, asking to see Doctor Watson. I had her wait by the fire place to help take the chill off her bones, she must be mad being out in such weather.” The landlady commented before gathering her skirts and making her way back to the stairs.
            Holmes and Watson looked at each other. “You don’t suppose . . .” Watson started to say.
            “I wouldn’t be surprised. She doesn’t show much sense sometimes.” Both men immediately went downstairs to the parlor, and just as both feared it was Katherine. “Good God. Are you mad?” Holmes asked as Watson hurried over to her insisting that she removed her cloak that was soaked through.
            “Why didn’t you come in a carriage?” Watson asked pulling a chair closer to the fire and insisting that she sit there.
            “I’m sure you realize I’m not even supposed to be here, Doctor.” She said in a low voice. “I think it would have been somewhat obvious where I had gone if I’d ridden here in our coach.”
            “So you’re here now, attempting to catch your death in your condition. To what do we owe the honor of this unscheduled visit?” Holmes asked. “Something else you wish to hire us for and not let us finish?” He questioned.
            Both Katherine and Watson shot the inspector a look for that comment. He certainly could be a bit tactless sometimes. ”I have a problem.” She said softly.
            “That’s shocking.” Holmes said sarcastically.
            “What’s wrong?” Watson moved on to the issue at hand wanting to shy away from Holmes’ rudeness.
            “It’s Lord Hawks. He’s being incredibly persistent even though I’ve done nothing to encourage him. He sends me gifts, occasional letters, and now he’s invited me to leave Henry and go to him. I haven’t even spoken with the man since the night he escaped.” She said a bit worried and frustrated. “I haven’t kept any of it from Henry hoping that he would understand that I’ve had nothing to do with his obsession. Yet it seems to make little difference.”
            “Surely Blackwood knows you would never do such a thing.” Watson suggested.
            “It doesn’t matter. I’ve reassured him a hundred times over, and he even says he knows I’m not lying . . . but he’s still very agitated about it.” Her hand rested on the swell of her abdomen. “What a horrible time for any of this.” She said softly.
            “So I was right then.” Holmes said barging right back into the conversation, “The Category is a Stalker and you wish us to put an end to his admiration for you. Is that it?” He inquired.
            Katherine glared at him a moment, “Actually, I came wanting to speak to a friend. A friend who I know cares and would listen to me. I apologize Mr. Holmes. I had no idea you would be home or awake this evening. I am sorry to have disturbed you.” She couldn’t have been clearer with her statement that Holmes had been an unwelcomed sight when it was Watson who she had come to see. “I imagine stalker cases are below your area of expertise.” She said with a disgusted tone.
            “Having been the one to aid you in the past when you’ve needed it most, I would think that my being presence was mandatory at all your dramatic late night visits, Lady Blackwood.” He said addressing her formally on purpose. Katherine narrowed her eyes at him, but stayed silent. She knew she had been rude, and even though he was the first one to be so, she knew it was wrong to sink to his level and be just as harsh as he was.
            “I’m not asking for assistance this time. I don’t know where there would be assistance to give. His notes and gifts are harmless, except they enrage Henry each time one slips past our door.” She admitted.
            “This could get very serious, Katherine.” Watson said, “Stalkers often begin harmless, but their obsession soon drives them to do foolish and dangerous things. Especially if you’re paying him no attention whatsoever, he may become frustrated and try a more aggressive approach.” Watson warned as he and Holmes had seen that sort of thing before.
            “Indeed.” Holmes added. “considering we already know what sort of fanatical mindset your admirer has, it’s possible that it will turn bad sooner than later.”
            “What do you suggest.” She said looking at the two men.
            “Bumping up your security would be the wisest thing you could do. These late night outings of yours by yourself need to cease. Finding you alone and unguarded is an excellent opportunity to catch you unawares.” Holmes advised.
            “He’s right, Katherine. I know you have little freedom as it is, but it’s imperative that you don’t leave yourself open to attack like this.” Lady Blackwood sighed as she looked away, wincing slightly she rested her hand on her abdomen. “Are you alright?” Watson asked.
            “Fine.” She said, taking a slow deep breath. “I swear he doesn’t sleep.”
            Watson, being a doctor reached up and rested his hand next to hers on the swell of her belly. A moment passed before he could feel the kick against his hand. “Certainly is strong this one.” He said a bit impressed not being able to imagine what that would feel like coming from the inside. “Look, you need to go home and rest. Part of the reason the baby is so active is because you are. Your heart rate changes, and he can feel what you’re feeling.”
            She gave a nod, and reached for her cloak that had dried a bit from the heat of the fire. “Let me see if I can get you a carriage so you don’t go out unprotected in this weather again.” Holmes said leaving the parlor to do just that.
            Katherine looked at Watson bit confused as to why Holmes offered to do that. “I don’t understand that man.” She said.
            “Often times, I don’t either. But he’s not completely insensitive. He knows you shouldn’t be out in this weather in your condition. And this stalker business is incredibly serious. As I said before, you are not the first stalker case we’ve come across. We have had one or two that ended tragically.” Watson explained shaking out her cloak wishing it could have gotten drier before she had to put it back on.
            Watson gave her a hand to stand as she moved a bit clumsily, before draping her cloak across her shoulders as she clasped it at the neck. “You have to talk to Blackwood, he should know how dangerous this situation is.”
            “I’m certain he already does. If nothing else it’s sparked severe jealousy in him and he’s more protective than ever.”
            “That’s not an entirely good thing either, but I suppose it’s the lesser of two evils.” Watson admitted.

Child Birth
            Blackwood hadn’t returned yet having gone earlier in the day to the headquarters of the Temple of the Four Orders. Katherine’s water broke just after sunrise, and Blackwood was already gone. Had he known that today was the day their child would arrive, then he certainly would have stayed.
            Her labor this time, wasn’t nearly as long as the others. It being her fifth child, things had gotten somewhat routine. Each time she gave birth, the labor she suffered was shorter and shorter. A mere 6 hours after it began, it was over and the newest addition to the Blackwood family had arrived.
            Katherine’s small frame still made it difficult to bring their child into the world, and it was hard work leaving her very tired after the experience. The baby was taken and cleaned from head to toe and put into a baby bunting while the bed linens were changed for clean fresh ones, and Katherine’s gown was changed for a fresh one after she was attended to.
            Yet, this time she refused to rest and refused to close her eyes until she held her baby in her arms, anxious to meet her new little one. Of course Blackwood was sent word immediately when she went into labor, but didn’t return home until hours after the event had taken place.
            At the front door, he rushed in without stopping to take off his outer jacket or hat and hurried up the staircase to their room. When he arrived, he found that mostly everything was back to normal and even the physician had gone. All that was left were two of their maids who stayed to look after his young wife and Katherine in bed with a small bundle in her arms.
            One of the maids stood and went to Blackwood taking his things that he had failed to leave at the door, and left to return them to their proper places. Blackwood walked around the bed to the side where Katherine lay, and leaned down kissing her forehead before sitting beside her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t have returned before now darling. I expected it to take longer like the other children did. This is rather unexpected.” He said. “Everything went well?” He asked.
            Katherine was beaming as she gave a nod, a bright smile on her face as she held their little one close. “Yes, the doctor says everything went very smoothly. No complications for a change of pace.” She joked slightly given her medical track record. Blackwood looked at the small one that she held in her arms who was fast asleep. A handsome child indeed. “They said despite the speed of her arrival, that she’s strong and healthy as can be.”
            Blackwood grew deathly quiet when he heard her speak, and his eyes shifted towards Katherine before back at the child she held. A girl. A female child. This was absolutely disastrous. It was too late to correct it now, Katherine knew the child was alive, and healthy. It couldn’t be hidden from her this time.
            The baby yawned wide as her tiny fingers seemed to curl up in a ball and she soon fell back asleep. Katherine’s smile seemed to light up even brighter. “She’s so beautiful Henry. What should we call her? Something pretty.” She whispered, “A daughter. We have a little girl.” She said excitedly.
            “So I see.” He said simply, just starring at the newborn she held. “You should rest.” Blackwood stood from the bed and left the room without another word. Katherine frowned with his abrupt departure, thinking he would have been happy like before when their children were born healthy and strong like this one.
            “He told me once that he had nothing but reverence for the female of our species.” She whispered to the little one, “He’ll love you just as much as I do, you’ll see.” Katherine placed a gentle kiss on the baby’s soft cheek, and just smiled holding her close.

Quandary
            Blackwood sat in silence in his study, a glass of hard liquor in his hand his he just stared into the void. He and Katherine got in a brutal and vicious fight earlier in the day, over the fact that their daughter, Mariam, hadn’t yet been baptized or christened by the order. Katherine chose the name herself directly from the scriptures, and Blackwood could care less and had no input whatsoever. Except that the name ‘Mariam’ had a peasant sound to it.
            It had been building in the past two weeks since the child was born, whenever Katherine held Mariam in her arms or made mention of her, Blackwood simply dismissed it and clinched his jaw in silence. It was frustrating to Katherine, and she couldn’t understand it.
            Every since the moment he found out he now had a daughter instead of another son, he had been trying to find some way to correct it without Katherine hating him forever. But he couldn’t simply ignore the fact that this girl was now in his household, and if he left it be she would grow to maturity and all sorts of problems would begin.
            The women in Katherine’s family, had an extremely strong link to each other. Specifically their sensitive abilities which allowed them to view into all aspects of a person’s life. To feel energy, to know what was and what was to be, and to sense things others couldn’t. To have a daughter that would inherit her mother’s gifts, would disrupt his plans considerably. And of course there was yet another danger. Not all the women in Katherine’s family had been strong enough mentally to carry their gift. Her grandmother, for instance, went mad by the time she was 21. Shortly after Katherine’s mother was born, she took her own life just wanting to be free of the visions she suffered. Blackwood had since learned that suicides were common in Katherine’s family, and had discovered a record of four besides her grandmother. Even more disturbing, he found that another three died together of being burned alive. They had been tried and convicted as witches and executed publicly. This was the most likely reason Katherine had no family now, and was raised in an orphanage.
            Katherine’s mother, however, was an exceptional young woman. She was strong willed and very intelligent and was able to wield her gift with the skill and talent that some could wield a sword. Yet, even with her mental strength and will, her body was not physically strong enough to survive giving birth to Katherine. She lived just long enough to see her daughter and hold her for a moment, but then she passed on leaving Katherine alone in this world.
            Blackwood had known about Katherine for some time before collecting her to be his bride. He watched her, and studied information on her family, waiting to see if she would inherit her mother’s strength along with her gift, or fall prey to the madness that so many of her female relatives did. Perhaps it was the harsh conditions she was raised in, the staunch and structured teaching she was given, or simply having to live alone with no family of her own, Katherine’s strength was evident from the first day he saw her from a distance. Just in the way she held herself, and the intelligence she displayed without being stuck up or proud about it.
            As far as Mariam went, it could go either way. There was no telling how the child would turn out in the long run. The ability that Katherine possessed made the few who shared it very unstable. Katherine was a rare gem, and fate had given her a strong hold on things. But the child. Even educating her from the moment she was able to be taught couldn’t guarantee that she would have the mental stamina to control her gift. It could overwhelm her and drive her to taking her own life as it did so many of the others. By then, Katherine will have watched her grow, nurtured and cared for her. If she were to take her life, it would devastate Katherine beyond repair. And looking at his own mother and father, and the somewhat questionable mental capacity they possessed . . . the odds were not in Mariam’s favor.
            Of course all of this was not common knowledge. He had done his research on his own, and no one knew of Katherine’s past except himself. Blackwood intended to keep it that way, not even Katherine knowing of her very dysfunctional and tragic family.
            Now, he was faced with an issue that he had cursed himself a hundred times over for not being more attentive to see it wouldn’t happen. Their daughter was handed straight into Katherine’s arms, and was perfectly healthy. Katherine had now had more than enough time to bond with her, and no matter what he decided to do with it, Katherine was going to be heartbroken.
            Lord Coward opened the doors of the study and stepped inside before closing and locking them. Then he turned and approached Lord Blackwood who was still just starring at nothing with his drink in his hand. “Well.” Blackwood said.
            “Lady Blackwood has said that if the order doesn’t christen her daughter, then she will take her to be christened in a church.” He said having been sent to calmly talk to Katherine when Blackwood stormed out. She came very close to being beaten within an inch of her life when he found her standing toe to toe with him shouting as loudly as he was.
            This really was starting to get out of control. The only religion and practices that she had referred to in years, by his own design was the order and their beliefs. If she was starting to regress back towards the church, despite what they had done when they abducted their children and sent them to the colonies then this was only the beginning and promised to get worse.
            “The longer we wait, the harder it’s going to be.” Blackwood said having been thinking on it a long time. “Call the doctors for a meeting. Privately.”
            Coward had never been comfortable with this. Every since the girl twin that Katherine had was ‘disposed of’, he’d had nightmares and overwhelming guilt that caused him to drink more then was usual or civilized. He didn’t know if he could do it again, when he was still so torn over the first one. “She’ll never trust you, never want to be with you again.” Coward said.
            Blackwood’s eyes focused and shifted towards Coward, who automatically wished he’d just kept quiet. He recognized that look in his eyes, and it never ended well for insubordinate people under Blackwood’s direction. “I suppose then, that some sort of explanation will have to be devised then, won’t it.” Lord Coward didn’t want to say anything more and risk provoking his own violent demise. “Go.” He ordered. The man quickly turned and left to fetch the physicians as he had been told.
            Henry took a deep drink from his glass, before glancing at the time. He had a sense that things between him and Katherine were going to become incredibly strained.

Waking Nightmare
            Katherine sat dressed in solid black clothing. Not her typical every day dress, but a mourning frock. She sat alone in a dark room only a few candles lit. She’d been here since yesterday morning and hadn’t moved an inch. There was a small closed casket on the table, with a black velvet shroud over the box. A golden embroidered symbol was on the cloth of their order.
            No one dared to go near the room, not wanting to upset her when it seemed hysterics were boiling just under the surface. She hadn’t cried, hadn’t spoken, hadn’t made a sound.
            Blackwood was the one who grew the boldness to enter, as he felt it had been long enough and she needed to move past it. Going inside of the room, he closed the door behind. It was very dark and the air was deathly still. He saw Katherine sitting in the same place in the same position she had been in the day before.
            Quietly, he moved closer to her and sat down in the chair beside her for a few moments. “Katherine,” He began, “You have to let her go.” He said.
            “I can’t.” She whispered, “I don’t understand. She’s only . . . .” her eyes turned down feeling a stab in her heart realizing that her baby that was now deceased was only three weeks old. “She was so healthy . . . . so strong.” She said her voice breaking a little as she tried to stifle back the tears.
            “I’m sorry.” He said solemnly. “Children sometimes develop their mothers aliments . . . her body wasn’t strong enough to fight off the disease.” He said softly.
            Katherine looked at him with wide eyes, “This is my fault?” She said in horror. “I’m the reason she got so sick so fast?” She was still in shock and that only made it worse.
            Blackwood turned towards her and took her hands in his. “No, no of course not.” His voice was gentle as he offered comfort. “Do you remember the doctors told you about your immune system being somewhat fragile? Why you got so sick when you ran off with our sons? She simply developed the same condition, and at so young an age she had nearly no defenses at all, poor dear.”
            Katherine’s eyes shifted up towards him as they darkened a little bit. Why did his words feel patronizing somehow? She knew why, and she was to distraught with grief to keep it to herself. “Why didn’t you christen her.” She said starring at him. “Why didn’t you baptize her after she was born like you did with our sons?” She demanded to know.
            “I was waiting.” He said softly, “Until it was a better time.”
            She just stared at him darkly not thinking that was nearly a good enough excuse and it seemed somewhat half hearted. “You were waiting. And now she’s gone and was never christened!” She shouted standing to her feet. “She might have had a better chance, more protection from the disease if you had done what I asked!!!” She cried clinching her fists starting to strike at him.
            Blackwood stood and caught her wrists letting her struggle for a moment, before she broke down into tears finally. She was still hurt and angry, and she couldn’t believe this could have happened. The pain in her stomach from her grief was so strong, that she wrapped her arms around herself and fell to her knees as tears flooded from her eyes. She fell forward her face buried against her knees as all she could do was cry uncontrollably. He watched her for a second before Blackwood leaned down and wrapped his hands around her shoulders, bringing her to her feet. It wasn’t as easy as one would hope, she was curled up around herself to tight.
            When he did finally get her to her feet, he reached down and swept her up into his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder, just clinging to him not understanding how this could be. Blackwood was silent and held her close letting her mourn. He turned quietly and carried her from the room, back upstairs.

Coincidence?
            “No,” Watson said.
            “Very unlikely.” Holmes agreed. He paused for a moment before looking at Watson, “Just what facts indicate to you that this wasn’t an accident or fate?” Sherlock questioned the doctor.
            “Because I am certain that Katherine has never been out of England much less her newborn daughter, and neither has ever set foot in the Congo.” He said with an angry tone in his voice. “She was infected with that disease. Deliberately.” Watson said slamming down his book.
            “Are you certain?” Holmes said, “I would think you would want to inspect the body before making that conclusion.” The Inspector suggested.
            “I’m not a magician, Holmes. And that is what I would have to be, considering the body was cremated immediately after they could pry Katherine from her. They’re damn luckily they didn’t infect Katherine, or start an epidemic fooling with such things.” The doctor started pacing still so furious he could punch a hole through a cinderblock wall.
            “How could they control it so well then? Keep it from spreading?” Holmes asked.
            “Because, it wasn’t an airborne disease. It was injected directly into her body, blood transmission. Had I been allowed to see her, I could have found the injection sight and prove that she was murdered.” The doctor was hardly able to contain his rage at the entire situation.
            Holmes chewed on his pipe a few moments, “It makes sense.” He said. “How else could Blackwood dispose of a child without taking any of the blame, and without letting Katherine see his intentions or that he was behind it. If a disease was the culprit, then it was the disease’s fault, and renders Blackwood blameless.” Sherlock shook his head, “It would be brilliant if it wasn’t so repulsive and morally apprehensible.”
            “Katherine has to know.” Watson said, “She has to be told now, today. If Blackwood is this comfortable disposing of his own children then Katherine and the boys are all in danger.”
            “Even criminals have moral codes, Watson. There own to be sure, but the ones like Blackwood set them in their mind whilst they are brought up into adults, and then spend the rest of their miserable existence abiding by them. The boys, are not in any danger. Katherine, However . . . .” Holmes began. Turning and pacing towards the window, he looked at Watson once more, “I’ve suspected for a long time that once he no longer has need of her as a brood mare . . . her life may not be as important to him.”
            “What about her . . . .” Watson stopped and cleared his throat slightly, as they had agreed to disagree on this subject some time ago.
            “You’re still convinced that she’s able to predict the future.” Holmes said arching a brow. “Amazing.”
            “She might have saved your life with her prediction.” Watson commented
            “Nonsense. What she predicted would happen never came to pass. If I were lying six feet under the ground then you could gloat and say that she was correct.” Holmes said relighting his pipe.
            “Except, she told you about it.” Holmes gave Watson a look thinking that was hardly relevant. “I asked her a while ago about it. She said that those people who don’t know their future, can’t change it. They can’t change it because it hasn’t been predicted yet. Those who get a glimpse into their future, can change it if they don’t like it because they know what’s coming. They know what choices will lead them to that end, and can change the one they choose.”
            “Now you’re getting into a whole new realm of debate, Watson. Perhaps we can stay on one particular complicated subject at a time?” The Inspector suggested.
            “Adler has been here twice since Katherine first told you what she saw looking for your help. Both times you turned her down and sent her away. Would you have still turned her away if Katherine’s words weren’t lingering in the back of your mind?” The Doctor questioned.
            Holmes truly didn’t want to get into this right now, nor admit that he did take Katherine’s words seriously enough not to help Irene when she came to him. “Adler is a known master thief and criminal and is wanted around the world for a number of offenses. I simply realized that my aiding and abetting a criminal put our careers, both yours and mine, in jeopardy. More than half our work comes directly from the yard after all.”
            Watson just gave him a look but realized that he wasn’t going to concede to the facts now, and they had more important things to worry about.

More Bad Habits
            Blackwood had restricted Katherine to the house since the death of her daughter. She was grief stricken and he didn’t want her emotions to run away and cause her to do something incredibly foolish. Not to mention that contact with outside sources might not have been the best idea until sometime had been put between them and this whole messy business.
            However, since Mariam’s passing, he hadn’t seen very much of Katherine. In fact, they didn’t even share a room now. She took to sleeping in the nursery with the boys each night and spent nearly every waking moment with them. That was something that was going to have to come to an end rather quickly, as he had no intention of putting off having more children. Something that would not come about if they continued to sleep in separate rooms and separate beds.
            Also, Katherine now watched her sons like a hawk. If one sneezed, even if it was caused by a speck of dust, she sent for the doctors immediately and had all four checked twice over to make sure they weren’t catching some deadly disease that might take them from her as well.
            She would read them stories and just spend time talking with them, and even playing games when the mood took them. She was still grieving over the loss of her child, and was over compensating with her attention to the others. Rather than upset her further, Blackwood was willing to let some time pass before he removed her from the nursery and returned her to her proper place in his bed. But not for too long, as he was anxious for the rest of his sons to arrive and to be able to touch Katherine at his whim once again. Of course, despite the tragedy she had suffered, she was still required to attend to her duties as priestess of the order. Which she did of course until one evening.
            The familiar ritual that she and Blackwood performed almost annually, was where she drew the line. She wanted nothing to do with him in the physical sense, and rather than endure the humiliation she suffered each time this ritual was practiced, she stepped away from his hand when he reached for her and took off running fleeing from the catacombs as quickly as her feet could carry her. Needless to say, this did not sit well with Blackwood, and it was going to be addressed that evening when he returned home.

Delinquent
            Katherine sighed when she found yet another letter that was unaddressed and had only her name written in now quite familiar swirls. She didn’t understand how these letters found their way to her hands, but was almost certain that one of the servants was being paid to pass them to her discretely. She stopped showing them to Blackwood immediately on arrival as it only enraged him and he would take it out on her.
            She opened the letter and began to read. Halfway through the short letter, her eyes went wide as she sunk into the nearby chair hardly able to believe what she read. It wasn’t one of the typical communications she got from her admirer; this was an invitation to meet with him so they could talk in person. When she finished the letter she jumped folding it back and holding it in her lap looking from left to right. She almost expected Blackwood to jump out of the shadows and catch her with this. He would be absolutely livid if he knew, especially after what she had pulled earlier this evening.
            Standing quickly, she took the envelope and the letter to the fire place and was preparing to throw it into the flames. Yet, she stopped and opened it up again rereading what he wrote. He simply wanted to talk? That was all? She was lost deep in thought for a moment actually considering accepting the invite, but she stopped and shook her head quickly tearing up the paper and throwing it into the fire. Didn’t the man learn his lesson last time he met with her alone? Blackwood had set a trap for him and he would have eventually been killed if Katherine didn’t disobey Henry and help Hawks escape.
            “How dare you.” She heard a voice say from the bedchamber door. Her eyes were wide as she spun around to see a very angry Henry starring at her. “Who do you think you are?” He growled as he walked towards her. Instinctively, Katherine started backing away from him seeing the rage and anger in his eyes.
            Reaching out he snatched her by the throat halting her retreat. Katherine hated when he did it, it was terrifying and made her feel helpless and vulnerable. No doubt the reason he did it in the first place. “The entire ritual was made useless because of your failure to take your part.”
            “You didn’t have another woman waiting in the wings this time.” Katherine couldn’t believe she had said that out loud and in such a flip manner. The malice in Henry’s eyes was burning now as Katherine felt his hand tighten around her throat. Her hands flew up to his wrist as she tried to pry them away as her eyes started to tear.
            “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but it’s becoming clear to me that you need to be reminded just who you are and who I am.” He growled. “You’ve mourned long enough. I’ve grown weary of your childishness.”
            Katherine’s fingers found his at the back of her neck as she pried them off of her just enough to throw her weight back and remove herself from his grasp. She gasped for air starring at him, frightened that she had been handled in such a way and angry that she was scared. “I know who I am, and I know what you are and I may be damned already for taking your name and part in your rituals.” She stood up straight as her gaze stayed on his. “But my children needn’t suffer and pay for our sins, and I’ll swallow burning red coals before I let you make me bring another into this world!” She screamed at him.
            Blackwood had apparently more then heard enough as the back of his hand struck her so hard, it threw her back to the floor. Katherine was dazed, as she rolled over and started to get up, only to find herself being jerked up from the floor. Blackwood grabbed her face roughly and forced her to look at him pushing her head back. “You will do as I say, and as you are told.” He growled at her through his teeth, “Or else the life you’ve lived with me thus far will become a fond memory, and I’ll show you what a nightmare is.”

Dangerous Secrets
            Katherine was nervous about this. She had asked herself a million times since she left the house what she was doing, yet she came here anyway. If Blackwood caught her out this time of night alone, he’d be furious.
            She paced next to the bench in a secluded place in the park, wrapped in her dark cloak and twisting her gloved hands together over and over. This was insane, what was she thinking? Shaking her head she turned to leave and hurry home as quickly as possible, but stopped coming face to face with Hawks. She jumped not expecting to see anyone there so close when she’d heard nothing.
            “I never thought you’d come.” He said with a soft smile. Katherine just stared at him for a moment, her heart was beating so hard from fear that it threatened to burst through her rib cage.
            “I shouldn’t have.” She said after a moment. Then she reached under her cloak and produced a small velvet bag holding it out to him, “But I felt I should return these to you. Some of them are very expensive.” Hawks knew what it was already but took the bag and opened it seeing the gifts that he had sent her that had successfully made it into her hands.
            Hawks reached up and touched her chin turning her face slightly seeing the black mark next to her eye where she had been struck a few days before. Katherine’s eyes turned downward embarrassed that even in such dim light it showed so well. “May I ask you a question? It is a bit personal.” He warned.
            Katherine looked up at him a moment, wondering why she seemed to want to tell this man anything he asked, considering who he was and who she was and how secrecy was a large part of both their lives. She gave a nod allowing him to ask.
            “Do you love Lord Blackwood?” He questioned directly.
            It was a strange question, but even stranger still is that she had never really thought about it before now. Then, it just felt like a silly question to her and she thought about it for a moment. “I had ideas about what love was when I was still a child before I was married. I think they were just foolish fantasies of a young girl. Disproved clearly once I was married to a man twenty years my senior.” She said softly.
            “How old are you now?” He questioned.
            “22.” She answered not having the vanity that most women had about it.
            “And Blackwood?”
            “He’s 46.” She half smiled, “I know how fortunate I am to have had a wealthy man choose me to be his wife. I was an orphan with no family, and nothing to my name. His age was of little consequence.”
            “Yet you don’t love him.” Hawks said.
            Katherine grew silent for another moment seriously thinking about it. “I don’t know.” She finally answered truthfully. “He gives me everything I need, and want . . .and even more. He provides for me and our children. I know that they’ll never go hungry because he takes care of us.”
            “That’s gratitude, Katherine. Not love.” Hawks said offering her a seat on the bench. Katherine was still very nervous about being here, and even though Lord Blackwood wouldn’t be home for hours, she was still afraid she would be caught. Yet, something was also compelling her to stay and she sat down on the bench before he sat down next to her. “All these things he gives to you are material luxuries. And he expects a great deal from you in return.”
            “Nothing in this world is the way it should be Lord Hawks. It’s harsh and it’s cruel.” She sighed a little, “Perhaps crueler for some then others, but that is the way of the world.”
            “Perhaps. But there are other things in this world that matter besides surviving. There is generosity without wanting anything in return, kindness without a price, and beauty all around you. Happiness, genuine happiness is something else that doesn’t cost money. Of course Love is perhaps the most precious of all.” He explained
            Katherine was feeling a bit strange talking about this. It felt as though she was being forced to take a good look at her wayward marriage and all the misery she’d gone through from the first day she entered into the Blackwood household. “Are you happy.” She asked wanting to shift this conversation away from her as quickly as possible.
            Hawks smiled a bit as he looked at her. “Our two orders are very different, Katherine. The magic we use and practice is for the good of mankind. Healing, helping those in need, and showing the world what it can be by living as it if it were as it should be.”
            “Our order has a somewhat different view of how to change the world. Power, and fear are what it uses most to bring about change.” She said softly. “So many lives have been taken to enhance the power they have.” Her eyes looked up at him. “I’ve seen demons. I’ve felt their presence. I’ve watched a dark and evil figure loom over Henry in the shadows while he performed the ancient rituals. I’ve seen eyes that weren’t of this world watching as we paid homage and sought favor from pure evil. These things exist.” She looked a way for moment, “Unless I am mad and have imagined it all.” It was something that she apparently considered and thought about frequently.
            “You’re not mad, Katherine. They do exist. The forces that they serve are the ones that my order fights against. To keep it from invading the world and covering it with darkness.” He explained.
            “Is that how you justified murdering our members in such gruesome ways.” She said looking at him seriously. “Killing the children of those men and their wives when they had nothing to do with our practices.”
            Hawks looked at her seriously for a moment. “It wasn’t us, Katherine.” She didn’t understand what that meant. “It was Blackwood’s way of disposing of those whose loyalty he questioned.”
            “What?” She said in disbelief as she couldn’t believe she had heard that right. “No, they were attacks by your order because we were persisting about getting the property that you refused to sell us.” She said.
            “That’s what you were told, and that was what it was made to look like. But we had no hand in those atrocities. Several of our members were murdered just as horribly and even worse. Blackwood took the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, and made it appear as though a bloody war had begun between our two secret orders.” He explained.
            “You lie.” She said in a shallow voice not really believing that he was lying, but what else was she expected to say?
            Lord Hawks took off his gloves and held out his hands to her. “Take my hands and tell me what you see. If I am lying then you’ll know and see it for yourself.” He offered wanting her to actually look inside of him.
            She hesitated a moment, not certain if she wanted to know the truth, but she couldn’t stop thinking about her children and their safety. Taking a nervous breath, she removed her own gloves and placed her hands in his, gazing into his eyes deeper and deeper.
            Hawks was patient and let her take her time as he watched her. Katherine started to shake as she dove inside him seeing the truth, when he had heard of the murders, and that he had nothing to do with them as he had said. There were other things there he knew about Blackwood, dark terrible things. Tears started to well up in her eyes, as her body trembled and she couldn’t catch her breath. “No!” She said jerking her hands away as she stood and turned away from him.
            He stood and moved closer to her, “I’m sorry, truly.” He said in a gentle voice. Tears slid from Katherine’s eyes down her cheeks as she kept her back towards him not wanting to be seen like this. There was pain in her heart, heartbreak seeing through another’s eyes the man she was married to. A morally bankrupt, greedy, and ruthless man with no sympathy for living beings.
            “Why are you doing this.” She said in a shaky voice after a few moments, “What do you want from me.”
            “I want to offer you a way out of your nightmare, Katherine.” He answered honestly. “You are very special, as I’m sure you already know.”
            “Because of my so called ‘gift’.” She said.
            ”Your sensitivity to the unseen is a gift, and a unique ability. But even rarer and infinitely more precious, is your heart.” He stepped closer to her even though she remained turned away from him. “It’s bursting with love, Katherine. Looking for the good in those around you, your love for your children, your love for those whom you don’t even know, your compassion . . . and even the love you show for Blackwood through your loyalty to him regardless of how harshly he treats you.” Reaching up he gently touched her chin and turned her face towards him, “You deserve to love and be loved without ridicule and punishment. To do what is right, and what is good without horrifying consequences. To follow your heart, and not be forced to turn away from everything you believe and hold dear.”
            His words fell so gently on her ears, as he seemed to know what she wanted more than anything. “You are a healer, Katherine. You belong with us. Not them.” Her deepest desires that she had buried and been forced to forget. She closed her eyes as a few more tears escaped from her eyes. Hawks could see how fragile and vulnerable she was right now, the horrid mark that appeared from Blackwood’s abuse still fresh on her face. Ever so softly, he placed the tenderness kiss on her lips. Not aggressive, not even passionate. Just a gentle, and small gift of affection.
            Knowing full well she was a married woman, she seemed to forget for one moment as feel safe here with this man. He was closer to her own age then Blackwood, but seemed so mature and so understanding. She’d learned recently that he was 31, and was quite surprised to learn he wasn’t much older.
            A moment passed before a second kiss followed as tender and gentle as the first.

Reality
            Katherine lay beneath Blackwood with her eyes closed while he pumped his hips hard against her thighs. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Katherine, he reached his climax deep inside her body and shuttered slightly at the sensation. Breathing deeply, he lay there with his arms still holding her tight, he just starred at her. Katherine’s eyes opened as she turned her head to the side looking at the far wall. Blackwood clinched his jaw at her reaction, more than irritated with her performance . . . or lack thereof since he’d struck her for her display willful disobedience.
            Blackwood had come to enjoy the aggressive struggles as they ravaged each other in the darkness of their bedchamber, and Katherine seemed to have grown quite an appetite for such activities herself. However, her sudden refusal to participate was not only jarring but frustrating to Henry as well. She wouldn’t protest, and cooperated as far as not resisting him, but she wasn’t involved in their love making at all. She simply lay still and wait for him to finish, then roll over and go to sleep.
            Rather than be satisfied at the end of their endeavor, he’d be more frustrated then when he began. “Are you trying to make me angry.” He said finally still not releasing her from his vice like grip beneath him.
            She didn’t answer and her eyes remained on the far wall. That was something else that was agitating him, her refusal to look at him. To look in her eyes while he made love to her, especially if there was fear in them, was exciting in itself. He wanted to watch her every emotion, her every reaction as he took her. Now, she closed that off from him and simply let herself be used until it was over. It was infuriating.
            “Don’t force me to take steps to encourage you in this.” He said in a warning tone, not above drowning her in pheromones if so needed.
            “Do you love me.” She said in a quiet tone out of nowhere, her eyes still turned away from him. Blackwood furrowed a brow never having expected her to suddenly ask him such a thing. He hesitated a moment before rolling off her to the side. Now that the question was asked, she wanted an answer. She needed an answer. “Do you?”
            “Of course I do. You are my wife.” He said simply.
            Katherine sat up enough to look at him. “Just because we’re married, doesn’t mean that love is a given.” She said. “Do you truly care for me, at all?”
            “What is prompting this?” He asked as this discussion had never come up between them before.
            “I wish to know. We’ve been married nearly eight years. I’ve borne you five . . .” She paused a moment as her eyes turned down, “ . . four children. Do you care for me, Henry?”
            He was quiet a moment as though considering the question himself. “I must.” He began, “Otherwise I wouldn’t feel the degree of guilt that I do when I’ve hurt you.”
            Katherine just looked at him for a moment before laying back down turning away from him and pulling the covers over her. She wasn’t sure what it was she had wanted to hear him say, what answer she was hoping for. But that wasn’t it. Blackwood’s eyes remained on her for several long moments before turning away from her as well and going to sleep.

Altered Chain of Thought
            Katherine sat in the parlor of the house that Holmes and Watson rented rooms in with her hands folded in her lap. Her eyes were starring straight forward as the two men waited for her reaction in silence. The pause was getting uncomfortably long and Watson glanced at Holmes.
            “If this were true, I would know.” She finally said after what seemed like an eternity. “I would have seen it. Felt it.
            “Not necessarily, Katherine.” Watson said being the only one of the two men who actually gave her the benefit of the doubt and believed in her ability. “You’ve always had a blind spot where Blackwood was concerned. You simply didn’t want to know.”
            “Even my Lord Blackwood isn’t capable of genocide. How can you accuse him of such an atrocity.” She said finally coming back from the shocked state she’d been in.
            “You know what he’s capable of. Have you really forgotten the ordeal we all went through when your first child was due to arrive? You knew that if it were born a girl and not a boy, Blackwood would have killed it right in front of you. That was the whole reason we risked life and limb trying to get you away from him. Then put ourselves in harm’s way a second time when he retrieved you, standing ready to swoop in and remove the child if the worst were to come about.” Holmes reminded her. “You knew, you heard his plans from his lips. That’s why you came to us for help.”
            She shook her head, “I must have heard wrong. I must have misunderstood him. It isn’t possible.” Katherine stood from where she sat starting to pace. “No one could do such a thing, not to his own children.” She was obviously trying to convince herself that it was a lie that Blackwood wouldn’t murder his own children. “It isn’t true.”
            “We’ve shown you the evidence, it’s undeniable.” Watson was more sympathetic for what she was feeling and going through then Holmes was. Sherlock was just frustrated that she didn’t seem able to accept the facts and realize how Blackwood truly had no human feeling in him whatsoever, and continued to defend him.
            “Mariam was sick.” She said turning towards the doctor, “I held her in my arms, I watched her fade away.”
            “Because she was infected with the deadly disease in the first place. Had seen been even a year older her body would have had a much better chance of fighting it and maybe even healing. But she was so small and still a newborn that she had no defense. She shouldn’t have died, Katherine. There was no conceivable way she could have been exposed to such a thing unless she’d been purposely infected.” Watson had already explained this to her, but Katherine was having a hard time accepting it.
            She shook her head a little turning her eyes away, unable to argue with what he told her. “I would have known if Caleb had a sister.” Katherine moved to the next piece of information, “I’m his mother, I was obviously present at his birth, I would have known if I had a second child.”
            “You were delirious when you gave birth. The difficulties that you suffered while you carried them made your delivery extremely problematic. You don’t remember having a second child, but I’ll wager you don’t remember any of it at all.” Watson said. Katherine closed her eyes and put her hand to her head feeling as dizzy as though she was going to be sick. Watson and Holmes looked at each other again, not certain if they could have been gentler with their news.
            “Why would he do this.” She said her voice breaking, “Why would he kill his own daughters? He told me that he had nothing but reverence for women, why would he murder his own little girls?”
            “Because he has no use for them. Not like he does for boys.” Holmes said not even attempting to sugarcoat it at this point. She needed to know, and had been left in the dark about the monster she was married to for far too long.
            “I don’t believe you.” She said, “I can’t believe you!” She wasn’t shouting at them, and was simply fighting herself.
            “You have to, Katherine.” Holmes said. “He’s not going to stop, until he has all the sons he needs, then you’re life will be in danger as well.
            “No, no it’s not true.” She said stepping back from him. “You’re LYING!” She cried.
            “We aren’t lying to you. I promise you we aren’t. We had our suspicions before, but we didn’t come to you until we had real concrete evidence that left no room for doubt.” Watson said.
            “This isn’t real.” Tears started to flow from her eyes as she sat down in a chair and buried her face in the arm of it, “it’s not real.”
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Dark Rituals