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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
- 18
- 19
- 20
Facing Facts
            Katherine sat at the table in her room, cradling her head in her hand having been lost in thought and nerves since she’d returned. Now she had it from several sources, evidence she’d been shown, proof, and testimonies from people whom she cared about and respected. The only ones in this world she could really call friends, and that she knew cared something for her.
            In her other hand, was a large glass. She had invaded Henry’s liquor that was always in their chambers, and this was her third glass she’d finished before filling it to the brim yet again. Her face was flushed red and she felt warm all over having consumed as much as she did, but she wasn’t really keeping track and was turning everything she’d learned over in her mind trying to make sense out of it, hoping she’d find something that would explain all of this.
            With all of the things he’d done, none was more horrendous or monstrous as what he had done to their own daughters. Had he been a normal loving husband and father, they would now have six strong and healthy children. Not just the four boys they had. Of course she loved her sons more than life itself and would do anything to keep them safe and cared for in a heartbeat . . . but to know her little girls. It was heart wrenching to know that she’d never see them grow, never hear them speak, never see them dressed beautifully for the holidays, never celebrate a birthday. Closing her eyes she took another hard drink from the glass, just hoping to drowned the pain in her heart and the thoughts in her head.
            The next thing she knew, the sound of the glass slamming against the table next to her head caused her to jump up and open her eyes. She had drifted off at some point with her head slipping from her hand and falling to the table.
            Blackwood stood over her having almost retired when he realized she wasn’t in bed. He went looking for her in the next room and found the decanter of spirits nearly drained and Katherine’s hand still wrapped around the glass she drank from. “Been experimenting again have we?” He asked unwrapping her fingers from the glass and putting it aside.
            Katherine was in a daze and everything seemed strange. Blackwood looked as though he was moving much slower then he actually was, and it was like she was dreaming. She started to stand from the chair but fell back into it unable to keep her balance for even a moment. She’d never had so much to drink at once in her entire life, and it felt as though she didn’t have control over anything.
            “Do you want to explain what this was about?” He said putting the stopper back on what was left in the decanter.
            “How can you drink this so often.” She said swaying a little where she sat. “It burns your tongue and throat, and sets your whole body on fire.”
            “I have a casual drink on occasion.” He said walking over and taking her wrist pulling her to her feet and sweeping her up into his arms before she fell again. “I’m not prone to diving into a bottle head first and swimming about.”
            He carried her into the next room and laid her down on their bed before moving to her feet and taking off her shoes. Katherine just watched him in silence, her arm resting across her middle. Blackwood didn’t look like a monster, nor like a murderous demon who’d escaped from hell, but a man. Just a simple man like any other.
            “I’d throttle you thoroughly if I thought you could feel it or remember tomorrow.” Henry said as he tossed her shoes aside, and unbuttoned her blouse, as she sat up a bit and pulled her arms out of the sleeves. Blackwood tossed that to the floor as well and quickly grasped her under garment blouse and pulled it over her head tossing it with her other things before she collapsed back to the bed. “If you were pregnant again, you could hurt yourself and the baby with this foolishness.” He said with a displeased look on his face, continuing to remove clothing such as her skirts and began on her petticoats.
            “Why didn’t you call for Beth to put me to bed.” She said continuing to watch him as she lay still.
            “You think I want anyone to see you like this?” He half laughed at the stupidity, “Have enough gossip and talk surrounding our lives without people seeing the Lady Blackwood in this state.” He reached under her last petticoat and pulled her undergarments down and off her legs tossing those on the top of the pile that now lay on the floor.
            “That’s why you never touched her. Never wanted to hold her.” Katherine said her eyes half open as she continued to watch him.
            “What are you going on about now.” He said as his fingers began to unlace her bodice. Tears were in Katherine’s eyes, but even in such an inebriated state she held them back.
            “It’s why you didn’t care what I named her, isn’t it.” Blackwood sighed knowing now what she was talking about, and wishing that this could just fade into the past and stop coming up. He stopped what he was doing for a second and looked down into her eyes.
             “You wanted a girl, I let you name her.” He said simply.
              “You didn’t want to know her.” Katherine whispered, “If you did, you might have found that you loved her as much as I did.”
              “I loved her, Katherine.” He responded. “Sometimes fate doesn’t always work out the way we want it too. We can’t always have what we want.” Reaching up he smoothed the hair back from her eyes gently. “I am sorry, Katherine.” Leaning over he blew out the candle on her side of the bed and moved to lay over her as he kissed her neck and her throat.
               “Henry,” She said closing her eyes shaking her head, “No, please.” She said starting to push clumsily at his shoulders. “Not tonight, not like this.” She whispered barely able to see or move her arms. It was like she had no control over her motor skills whatsoever.
               “I suppose that’s something you should have considered before drinking my scotch.” He said in her ear before grasping her wrists and pushing them down on the mattress, before sliding them up under her pillow to stretch her out beneath him a bit. She was very warm to the touch all over her body, a side effect from the spirits she’d consumed.
               She started to panic a little and struggled slightly, still unable to move any part of her person with even the smallest bit of dexterity. Blackwood paused his affections as he simply leaned all of his weight down on top of her, rendering her powerless. “Just relax, Katherine.” He whispered nuzzling her ear slightly. “This could be entertaining.”

Agreements
            “You’re certain?” Lord Hawks asked as he stood in the darkness of the clearing where he had told Katherine to meet him in his most recent letter. “You are ready to go through with this.”
            “I can’t live with him anymore. I don’t want my children to grow up to be like him, and want them to be safe.” She said. “Can you help us?”
            “My offer still stands.” He said. “Even if you don’t want me . . . I’ll still make sure you and your sons are taken care of.” He promised.
            Katherine was silent for several moments, her eyes turning down. It was a difficult thing he had asked of her. “I couldn’t marry you.” She said softly. “I couldn’t because I am already married. Would you honestly want the wife of another man as a lover?” She questioned.
            “If you wanted me, Katherine. I would have you as you are, and not ask you to change. Even if it meant you legally belonged to someone else.” He answered truthfully.
            She was quiet for a moment before taking a breath and giving a nod, “My boys need a father, Richard. They hardly know theirs now. I want them to have a normal family. A mother, a father, a home of their own without strange things and darkness all around them. I want them to know they are loved and be able to love without fear in return. That they are not just some part of the mysterious future plans that Henry has made.” She explained.
            He smiled, “Is that all you ask of me? You could ask for much more, even something that would be difficult.”
            “If the time ever comes that . . . you and I should have children . . . and they should be girls . . . I want them to be safe. I want to see them grow into the young women they would become. It’s all I want.” She said softly, trying to hide the tears that were starting to form realizing once again she would never meet the daughters she’d failed to protect.
            “Done.” He said taking her hand in his. “I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life, I promise.” Then he kissed the back of her hand tenderly before looking up at her. “You can’t stay here in England,” He began getting down to the next and most important step. “I have a Villa in Italy on the out skirts of Rome. I’ll make arrangements for you and the boys to be spirited there out of London, making certain that nothing is left behind to help him find you.”
            “Just tell me when and where you want us, and we’ll be there ready to travel immediately.” She said.
            “Good. Give me until Saturday to have it all arranged, and I will send word to you where we will meet.” Hawks looked at his pocket watch not wanting to keep her for too long, knowing she had to get back home before she was missed. “Are you sure you can move all four children by yourself?” He asked.
            “Mary will help me. She has nowhere to go, and if she’s left behind she’ll be blamed for our disappearance and punished harshly.” Katherine explained, “She loves the boys as I do, as if they were her brothers. We can trust her.”
            “You must get back, but I swear to you everything will be ready by the end of the week.” He promised. Katherine’s heart sank a little, as she would have been happy retrieve her children that night and disappear into the void with Hawks. But she understood, and it was best to plan rather than start running with no clear path.
            Katherine nodded a little bit, “Please, hurry.” She whispered terrified that someone would catch them.

Slim Cases
            “Katherine,” Watson began, “It’s wonderful that you’ve decided to leave him. God knows you and your sons will be much safer and it’s long over due . . . . but we need your help to put him away for good.”
            “No one is going to step forward to testify against him, much less knows him better and what sort of things his order practices. You’ve witnessed it firsthand.” Holmes added.
            “I couldn’t testify against him.” Katherine said, “I’m betraying him enough just leaving, I’m not going to get him executed by telling his secrets in a court of law.”
            Holmes rolled his eyes in frustration and had to turn and walk away from her. Watson looked at Katherine knowing that she was terrified and this was a huge step for her to take in the first place. “Katherine, if he’s still at large after you’ve gone, what’s to stop him from finding you? He has numerous resources all over Europe.”
            “I can’t tell you where we’re are going, I can’t tell anyone. But Lord Hawks says that he will keep us safe and take precautions to make sure that we aren’t easily followed.” She explained.
            “And what do you know of this man?” Holmes spoke up, “Hardly anything except what you’ve been told by Blackwood, by the order, by Hawks himself. You don’t know him at all yet you are willing to place both your life and the life of your children into his hands? Have you no sense of self preservation?”
            “Would it be better if I stayed here knowing the next time I gave birth to a child, he’d easily dispose of it if it was a girl?” She asked. Holmes sighed, of course it wasn’t. “I’ve lost two children I’ll never know already, Mr. Holmes. I don’t want to be deprived the joy of daughters again.”
            “You’re afraid, and I can understand how you would be. But Blackwood doesn’t know that you know about them, and that buys you some time.” Holmes told her, “If you help us, you won’t have to sneak out of London you can leave of your own accord any time you wish without fear of being followed.” She just stared at him a moment before shaking her head. “My God, woman. Don’t you want him to pay for his sins? Don’t want him to be punished? For your girls to be avenged?”
            “I’m still a mother, Mr. Holmes. I don’t have the luxury of wishing for revenge. My only concern is for the children I have and to get them away from this living nightmare as quickly as possible!” her voice raised somewhat, irritated that neither of the two men seemed able to comprehend this. “He will have to pay for all the wrongs he has done in time, and it is not my place to make him do so.” She sighed feeling a bit tired and lightheaded. “I just want to be safe. I want to be normal.”
            “You’re not normal, Katherine. Eight years you’ve lived with Blackwood, you will never be normal again.” Sherlock said directly. It sounded harsh but it was true. “If you run now, when he is still free, you’ll be running the rest of your life constantly looking over your shoulder as you were doing when we first met.”
            “It is something I can bare for the sake of my children. I came to you tonight hoping you could help us get away. If you feel as though you cannot assist me because I can’t help you . . . I understand.” She looked at the two of them hating that it had to be her answer.
            Holmes and Watson looked at each other a moment, before Holmes sighed knowing that the final decision was going to rest with him. “We’ll help you.” As if they could choose not to.

Pins and Needles
            Every time Blackwood came near her, every time he spoke to her, Katherine could hardly breathe scared to death that he would suddenly know what was going on. That he had somehow found out and was going to punish her in some unimaginably horrible way. She stayed very cooperative with him, and didn’t argue or give him any sort of defiant attitude in the hope there would be no reason to watch her to closely.
            Unfortunately, she was never very good at lying. Blackwood wasn’t blind or an idiot. He could see that she was hiding something, and was now quite suspicious of her. There was something going on, and he was going to find out what.
            Mary was left in the dark, for the simple fact that if she knew nothing then she couldn’t be guilty of anything. If things didn’t go as planned or something went wrong she could say she had no knowledge of it and be telling the truth. But when it was time to leave, she would pick up and follow Katherine without question. She was incredibly loyal to the boys and to their mother, and was treated extremely well from the first day she had come to live with them.
            Katherine didn’t know how the letters from Lord Hawks was making it into her hands in the first place, but she tried to wait patiently, hoping to find an unaddressed envelope waiting for her when she returned to her rooms. Saturday had come and gone and still there was no word.
            Watson and Holmes stood at the ready, to move as soon as they received word from Katherine as they knew they wouldn’t have much time to get her and the children to their destination before Blackwood sounded the alarm and every one of his followers were sent out to find her.
            At last, when Katherine returned to her rooms after tea, she saw the familiar white paper and the handwriting she came to know spelling out her name. She felt a sense of relief and anxiousness as she quickly picked it up and went into the next room to open it and read.
            There were instructions on what she was to do and where she and the children were to go and wait until his men arrived to take them out of the country the same night. She read it over and over again memorizing the words before she placed it in another sealed envelope and addressed it to Holmes and Watson, sending a servant out immediately to deliver it to them not wanting to keep it any longer and run the risk of being caught.
            She walked over and looked into the mirror just starring at herself, hoping and praying in her heart that she was strong enough to go through with this and do what needed to be done. Her nerves were overpowering, and she had never felt fear this strong before in her life. She was going to be a nervous wreck until they were safely away and all of this was left behind them.
            Katherine swayed a little feeling dizzy and ill again and had to sit down a moment. She covered her eyes with her hand and took long deep breaths trying to make the sick feeling pass. It was another fear that had begun to plague her. This illness was very familiar, and it hadn’t passed like a normal illness would. The chances were, it wasn’t an illness at all and it wouldn’t be long before she was a mother yet again.

Torture Experts
            Four men in a small room surrounded the man who was sitting in the chair. Blackwood stood by the fireplace with the hot poker buried in the coals and flames as it grew hotter by the moment. Two men held him down in the chair so he couldn’t turn his face away, another man poured water down his throat over his nose and mouth over and over again, and the fourth man would place shallow cuts that were extremely painful over his arms, shoulders and chest.
            “You’ve been a servant in my house for years, Jonathon.” Blackwood said turning the poker over and over again, “I knew you were a greedy one, but I had no idea you’d risk everything like this for a bit of coin.” He turned and walked towards the man, carrying the poker with him holding the tip out which was now white hot. “I’m impressed really, that I haven’t caught you sooner.”
            “I didn’t know what was in them; I was just supposed to deliver them, that’s all!” He cried gasping for air, his eyes wide and starring at the hot poker. “I never knew what they said!”
            “You knew who they were from, and you kept them hidden delivering them to Lady Blackwood without my knowledge. It was foolish Jonathon. You should have brought them to me.” The young man turned his face away as the poker got closer, but one of the men grabbed his head and turned his face back towards Blackwood holding it in place. “Now, I’m going to give you one chance, and one chance only.”
            He held the poker close to the man’s face pointing directly at his eye. It was so close that he could feel the heat coming off the iron and he started to breathe faster as his heart pounded in his chest.
            “I know you, boy. You had some idea of what they said, you’re to much of a gossip monger to let secrets slip past by you. Tell me what they were, and you may live to see the morning.” He warned.
            “I swear to you, on my mothers grave, I don’t know!” Blackwood clicked his tongue slightly at this.
            “Wrong answer.” Blackwood said as he began to press the hot poker to the mans face.
            A blood curdling scream came from the small room that echoed through the vast hallways, followed by an eerie silence. Yet there were many more screams that were to follow.

Preparations
            Katherine was growing anxious now. Tomorrow, she and her children would abscond into the night running for their lives for freedom from this place and leaving all it’s horrors behind. She’d gone over the plans in her head a million times over, then a million times again.
            Lord Hawks had told her it was unnecessary to pack anything, he would provide everything she and the boys needed. The less she had, the faster and easier it would be for them to get away. She was to dress herself and the boys as simply and plainly as possible, for once the black clothing that they were all made to wear would be useful as it would help keep them hidden in the dark.
            All there really was left to do now was to wait. Once Henry was gone for the evening to a secret meeting of the order, she would go to the nursery and quickly and quietly gather Mary and the boys. They would then quickly make their way across the grounds to the small road where Watson and Holmes would be waiting with a coach to take them to the rendezvous point.
            There were still a million things that could go wrong, a million chances to be caught and brought back to the manor and Blackwood’s wrath. But everything had been well thought out and planned carefully. All they had to do was follow through with it.

Countdown
            The next afternoon, Katherine spoke with Mary finally telling her what was going on and what was going to happen. Mary gave a sigh of relief expressing how glad she would be to leave that house. She adored the boys, and she loved Katherine, but anyone who was on the grounds could feel the underlying evil that pulsed through every part of the property. Blackwood himself sent shivers down her spine if she was anywhere near him, and when he looked at her, his eyes were cold and dead and she felt like she wanted to be anywhere else in the world except near him.
            After dinner, Katherine had started to return to her chambers but was stopped before she could leave the dining room. “Katherine,” Blackwood said halting her steps. Katherine’s entire body tensed as she suppressed the desire to take off running down the hall. Taking a breath she regain a pleasant expression and turned back to him.
            “Yes My Lord?” She asked waiting to see what he wanted of her.
            “We’re leaving at 8. I suggest you go change and get ready.” Katherine was frozen not having heard about her going anywhere with him before now.
            “Sorry?” She asked a bit confused.
            “You’ll be accompanying me to the ceremony tonight. An added ritual do to some upheaval in our ranks has been added. I will need my priestess to be present to help perform the rites.” He said never taking his eyes from her.
            Katherine’s heart pounded in her chest as all of the plans that had been made were about to go up in flames. “I . . . don’t know if I should attend. What I mean is, I’m not certain it’s a good idea.”
            “Oh?” Blackwood said walking towards her, “And why not?”
            She instinctively took a step back when he approached her but stopped trying to hold her ground. “I’ve not been feeling well for a few days. My stomach has been upset and I’ve felt dizzy and light headed. I could be coming down with something. It would be better if I simply stayed home and retired early tonight.”
            “I’m afraid that ‘sick days’ are not a luxury that our priestess is entitled to. You have duties and responsibilities, and I expect you to see to them without fail.” He said in a stern tone. This was an absolute disaster. Everything was ready for them to leave tonight. Mary was ready to gather the boys and run when Katherine came to her, Holmes and Watson would be waiting in the planned place, and Hawks men would be standing by to take them away in secrecy.
            “My Lord,” She began gathering her courage and stepping closer to him resting her hands on his chest and looking into his eyes. “I’m concerned, because I’m . . . I’m suspicious that this is not an illness and I could very well be expecting again.” She said in a soft whisper as though she didn’t want anyone else to hear. “Until I’m certain, I don’t think it’s wise to be exposed to such conditions.”
            Blackwood half smiled as he looked at her and rested his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them slightly with his thumbs. “No bloodletting will be required of you, I can promise you that. But this is wonderful news, that our family will soon have another addition to it.” He kissed her forehead, “I couldn’t be more pleased. Now, go and get ready. We don’t want to be late.”

Change of Plans
            Mary helped Katherine with her dress, a worried look in her eyes. They were alone, as Katherine had specifically requested Mary to help her get ready on purpose. “What are we to do, M’Lady?” She asked in a soft voice. “If you’re gone with Lord Blackwood to the temple, how can we hope to leave tonight?”
            “You will have to take the boys.” Katherine said, “Everything will go as we planned, you get them to the coach and Mr. Holmes and Mr. Watson will take you to the meeting place.” She bit her lip slightly, “I’ll have to find an opportunity to slip away to get to you.” Mary finished the last button on the back of Katherine’s dress, and she turned to face her. “Listen very carefully to me, Mary.” She said in a serious tone, “If I’m not there before midnight, then you and the boys must go with Lord Hawk’s men. You can’t wait any longer then midnight for me or else you’ll run the risk of Lord Blackwood catching you.”
            “I couldn’t do that, and leave you behind. What will happen to you if Lord Blackwood discovers you?” She said in horror at the possibilities.
            “Let me worry about that. All you need to worry about is getting my sons safely to the meeting place. Holmes and Watson are trustworthy and will take care of you. Do as they say and move as quickly and quietly as possible.” Katherine sighed looking in the mirror at herself. “If I don’t make it to you in time, I’ll find some way to catch up.”
            Mary still looked very nervous but gave a nod letting Katherine know that she would do as she asked.

Pockets Full of Posies
            Blackwood’s eyes never left Katherine from the moment they left the house, he just stared at her watching. It seemed as though she was never going to have a chance to slip away like she had hoped.
            The ritual was still in progress at 10 o’clock, as Katherine stood in her place holding the atheme as another member stepped forward and kneeled and she sliced across his thumb as blood dripped onto the pentagram drawn on the floor. Lord Cowards eyes moved between Katherine and the man whose finger she’d just cut. She was usually more squeamish about this act, but her mind was somewhere else. Coward wasn’t the only who noticed, Blackwood was still watching ever every move.
            When the ceremony was finally concluded, it was almost 11:30pm. Blackwood ordered an escort to take Katherine upstairs while he took a moment to lock away their sacred objects that had been used including the books that were read from. She and the man who was somewhat larger then her, made their way up the winding staircase as the other members dispersed.
            Her heart was pounding so hard she could hear each beat ring in her ears. As an alarm hadn’t been sounded, it was safe to assume that Mary and the boys had safely gotten away without detection. Otherwise a message would have come that would have immediately halted the ceremony. This meant if she didn’t get to the proper meeting place in time, she was going to be separated from the boys yet again.
            When they came to the top of the narrow staircase, Katherine felt as though this was her one and only chance. She would be cutting it extremely close as it was. When the man opened the door and stepped back to let her through first, she started to walk past him. However, she suddenly threw all of her weight against the door knocking him back off the narrow ledge down the staircase. She bit her lip hoping that he was going to be alright when she looked over the ledge and saw him sprawled out on the stairs below not moving. Then she ran through the door closing it behind before gathering her skirts and running down the hallway.
            Blackwood finished dousing the candles on the alter and made sure everything was locked away securely before starting to descend the long staircase that led up to the basement of their headquarters, Lord Coward following him. However, as they made it halfway up the stairs they saw the unconscious man on the stairs where he had fallen. “She’s going to run.” Blackwood said as both men stepped over him and ran up the stairs.

Trying to Escape
            The members of the order took a bit of time to disperse. Most of them had arrived in their coach’s and carriages which milled about in the square that led to the street, picking up their guest and departing. This was a good thing as the commotion gave Katherine the distractions she needed to slip through the crowd into the cobble stone street.
            When she made it down the street a few buildings, much to her dismay she heard the commotion coming from the headquarters. They must have found her escort on the staircase. Blackwood had sounded the alarm, and recalled the remaining members back to help search for Katherine. Now she had wished that she had gone back through the catacombs which was her first thought to use one of the other exits that surfaced in different parts of the city. It would have been much more difficult for them to find her, and easier to disappear.
            Quickly, she ducked back into one of the long alleys where many unfortunates and other poverty stricken beings walked the streets at night and sold their wares. She started to pass one woman who wore an old moth eaten cloak, but stopped and hurried back to her. Quickly removing her thick black wool cloak she traded it with the woman who was more than anxious and happy to have the warm expensive one. Katherine wrapped it around her and pulled the hood up over her head making her way down the alley again hoping that now she would blend in better.
            She saw a clock in a window of a shop she passed, and now she only had 10 minutes to make it to her destination. She didn’t think it was possible to make it all the way there in such a short amount of time on foot but she had to try.

Waiting
            Watson stood with Mary outside the carriage that Hawk’s men had brought to collect Katherine and the others. They had transferred the boys from the coach that Holmes and Watson had arranged for into the one that was supposed to take them to safety. It was well past their bedtime and they were all flopped over each other on the seats inside quite asleep.
            “Something must have gone wrong; she should have been here before now.” Watson said walking towards Holmes.
            “I believe it already went wrong when Blackwood insisted that she accompany him tonight.” Holmes reminded the good doctor. “He must have had his suspicions that something was going on to want to keep her close.”
            Mary rushed over to the two men, “It’s nearly midnight. Where could she be?” She said starting to panic a little. “Lord Blackwood will be furious when he finds that the boys have gone. What are we going to do?” She said wringing her hands together in a panic.
            “Katherine charged you with protecting her sons and keeping them safe. You are going to do exactly as she said, and go with them.” Watson said seriously checking the time. It was midnight, they had to go now. Holmes and Watson walked Mary back over to the carriage and put her inside closing the door.
            Holmes walked around looking up at the driver, “We’re going to find, Katherine. Inform Lord Hawks of the situation, but get these children out of here to safety.” He said. The driver gave a nod and within an instant the carriage took off disappearing into the darkness. Holmes looked at Watson, “If she managed to escape then the whole of London will be trying to find her within the hour, and if she’s still under Blackwood’s person guard we might have until morning where it will definitely be discovered that the boys have disappeared.”
            “Hawks better live up to his promise to keep them safe.” The two men hurried off to try and find out what had happened to Katherine before things got even worse.

Plain Sight
            Katherine was starting to panic now, as the streets seemed to be flooded with police stopping everyone obviously looking for something or someone specific. She did her best to avoid them but it was getting more and more difficult to evade capture. It was nearly 2am now. She had long since missed the rendezvous and wasn’t getting any closer to where she had been supposed to be. And she was beginning to feel sick again, but had no time to stop and rest until it passed.
            This late at night, she found herself on the west end, where the city never really slept. A different class of people milled along the streets at night. Unfortunates, prostitutes, thieves, pick pockets, pimps, drunkards and all other sorts of nasty creatures who wouldn’t dare slither out in the light of day among respectable people.
            Tonight they were particularly agitated from the incredible amount of inspectors, police and bobbies that were roaming through the streets and in their eyes, were harassing everyone. Katherine had no choice but to end up down in this part of town, otherwise being the only one out so late she would stick out like a target.
            With the cloak she wore, it was easy to think she was one of the crowd and resulted in her being propositioned more than once. When she looked up at them from under the cloak they stepped back and quickly realized their error. She was still wearing thick make-up for the ceremony that had been performed earlier in the evening. Her eyes had always been striking by themselves but with the makeup she wore to the orders rituals almost made them glow.
            Katherine was quickly running out of room to flee, as now it seemed as though every street and ally she turned on, there were policemen everywhere. Finally, without meaning to, she was backed into a corner at the end of an alleyway having been trying to avoid the law. Katherine started to double back but stopped finding police heading towards her in both directions.
            She stepped back into the alley and leaned her back against the wall trying to stay out of sight. She closed her eyes and reached under the cloak she wore, wrapping her hand around the charm that she always carried with her. It had a tigers eye stone at the center of a sterling silver dragon that held it in his mouth, and somehow whenever she wore it it made things clearer.
            Her eyes opened when she heard the voice of a policemen inquiring about a young woman and giving her description just around the corner from where she was standing. If she tried to make a run for it now, it would be obvious and every officer in the area would be hot on her trail.
            Suddenly, she was snatched off the wall and pushed back down the alleyway, behind some boxes. With her hood over her head she couldn’t see who it was that had grabbed her and they held a death grip on her arm. There was a wooden door that she hadn’t seen her first time she’d passed it that she was immediately pushed through and it was slammed shut. It was incredibly dark, and there was no light at all.
            “What are . . . .” Was all she could say before a hand clasped tight over her mouth and she was shoved up against the wall.
            “Shhh.” Was the only sound that came from her captor as the sound of running feet and shouting voices passed by the doorway. Another moment passed before someone actually tried to open the door, but her captor had put a wooden bar across it effectively making it seem like the door was solidly sealed shut.
            Finally, the commotion outside seemed to fade into silence as the hand slowly moved from her face. Katherine kept quiet afraid that any moment the door would burst in and she would be found. Then her wrist was grabbed once again and she was hustled through the darkness without a word, through another door on the far side of the small room. It led to a stair case that led down into the sewers below, London. The door they had come through was quickly closed and sealed as well as Katherine just stared at the figure not understanding why she’d just been helped.
            When he turned, her eyes went wide as he pushed the hood back.
            “Edward?” She said in confusion and surprise.

Unexpected Ally
            When Katherine realized who it was that had her, her eyes went wide and she started to turn to run but he caught her and held her in place. “No, no it’s alright.” He said quickly in a whisper. It seemed as though he wasn’t trying to capture her like she expected all Blackwood’s followers to have orders to do. “Come on.” He said taking her hand. They rushed down the stone steps as Katherine gathered her skirts to keep from falling.
            At the bottom of the stairs, there were two doors, one led into a small room, the other was the service entrance to the sewers. He opened the door to the room and pushed her inside, before stepping in as well and closing it.
            He lit a lamp that was left there flooding the room with light as Katherine just stared at him not understanding what was happening. “Here,” He said picking up a sack from the floor. “You have to change. The cloak was a good idea, but your ceremonial robes are a bit obvious to anyone looking to closely. Not to mention they found the woman you gave your cloak to and she told them what this one looked like.”
            She took the sack, and started to pull the garments out that he had waiting for her as she turned and started to take off her dress. Coward turned away from her to give her as much privacy as possible, and opened a box that had been placed there with the sack of clothing.
            “There isn’t much time, the sewers will be the next on the list of places to search. You have to make it to the service tunnels under the bridge.” He said taking out a small gun and loading it with bullets, and setting it aside before taking out a plain dagger and putting it beside the gun.
            Katherine put on the skirt and blouse and the large leather belt that went around the middle. It was definitely working class garb without question. There weren’t any shoes so she would have to continue to wear the ones she had. She removed her earrings, necklace and even her rings but she kept the charm feeling as though parting with it wouldn’t be a good idea.
            “Once you’re on the other side of the bridge, there is a coach waiting for you. It’s like all the others hired in London, but it’s horses all have white feet.” Katherine reached in the bag and took out the warn cloak wrapping it around her shoulders as she listened to him speak. Realizing she was dressed again, Coward turned and walked over to her with the firearm and knife. “They’ll take you to Dover and have strict orders to do so quickly without stopping.”
            The young woman just stared at him a moment not understanding why he wasn’t dragging her back to Blackwood kicking and screaming. He tucked the firearm away where she could easily reach it and handed her the dagger, “I know you were trained to use this.” He said. “Keep it close, you may have to before the night his through.”
            She looked at the knife before looking back at him and took it slowly. “Edward, why are you doing this?” She said. He didn’t answer right away, and picked up the jewelry she’d taken off and put it in the box closing it.
            “My wife is expecting our first child. It’s due in the spring. She told me a few weeks ago.” He said. “Since she’s told me, all I can think about is protecting him. I’m rather looking forward to being a father.” He said remembering the day that she’d given him the news. Pulling himself back into the moment he turned and looked at, Katherine. “I can’t imagine the pain you’ve suffered. I couldn’t imagine my wife suffering the same pain, I could never let that happen much less inflict it upon her myself.”
            The sincerity in his eyes was genuine. She could see it and feel it in his words. She smiled softly at his good fortune, but also that it seemed as though someone finally understood.
            “Come on.” He said reminding her that they had very little time. She tucked away the dagger, while Lord Coward shoved the clothing and the box back in the bag so it wasn’t easily detected, before blowing out the lamp as the two rushed out of the small room.

Home Stretch
            Lord Coward must have been through these tunnels before, as he took her through them at a fast pace. With the twists, turns, winding and narrow passages ways it would have been easy enough to get lost and even never find your way out.
            They did have to stop once as, Katherine grew dizzy and fell to her knees feeling as though she was going to throw up. Coward stood her to her feet and leaned her against the wall before taking out a small flask and holding it to her lips. She put her hand up to stop him, but he shook his head. “It’s not alcohol. Drink.” He said. Katherine was hesitant but she took it as he poured it down her throat. Putting the cap back on and putting it away, Katherine coughed a few times trying to catch her breath. “Compliments of your doctors, it should settle your stomach.” He said taking her hand again as they started to run.
            Finally, after what seemed like an eternity they came to a staircase and Coward stopped there. “Here, this is as far as I can take you. Now, listen carefully.” He began, “You have to go down these stairs, down the hallway to another set of stairs. You must then go through the door on the left and three flights up. That will put you in the one service tunnel that takes you under the tower bridge. Follow it to the other side, and then take the wooden staircase at the end of the tunnel that will take you down to the door that leads you out into the street. The coach will be there. Remember, it’s the coach where all the horses have white socks.” She nodded repeating it over to him out loud and in her mind.
            “Thank you. I was so lost.” She said looking into his eyes, she turned and started to walk away but he stopped her.
            “I’m sorry for the part I played in all of this, Katherine. For years I stayed silent and complied without question carrying out all the orders I was given regardless of my own conscience.” He said. “It’s unforgivable.”
             Katherine felt tears welling up in her eyes, knowing exactly how he felt. She had done the same thing, and was just as guilty of allowing her daughters to be slaughtered as anyone by turning a blind eye and rationalizing everything that had gone on in their house. She turned towards him and took gloved hands in hers. “I do forgive you Edward.” She said softly leaning up and kissing his cheek knowing how much he was risking by helping her. “Your child will be fortunate to have you as his father.” She said.
              Lord Coward smiled never having expected her to be so kind, but quickly took his hands from hers and started to push her towards the staircase. “Go, quickly.” He said. Katherine turned gathering her skirts and running in the direction he’d indicated.
              Coward watched as she made her way down the steps and disappeared, feeling a sense of relief that she was well away. However, the relief was short lived as the sound of sliding steel and a piercing pain through his chest made it impossible to breathe. His entire body was tense and shuttered in shock as his eyes moved down to see the tip of a blade sticking through his chest. Then, it disappeared as it was jerked back through his body. Within seconds, he was dead and his lifeless form dropped to the ground.
              Standing behind him, the sword drawn from his cane, was Blackwood who had been on his trail since he separated from the others disappearing from the headquarters. His instincts to follow him came from months of being suspicious of the way he acted whenever Katherine came up in discussion or whenever she was in the same area. He just looked at the dead mass on the ground with a dark and stern look on his face, before his eyes moved back to the stairs where Katherine had disappeared into.

Winding Darkness
            Katherine thought she followed the directions he’d given her, but it was taking to long to get to the tunnel that led across the bridge. She must have taken a wrong turn somewhere, or the wrong door. She stopped for a moment leaning against the stones trying to get her bearings again.
            The bridge itself was relatively new. They finished it around the time Michael, their second son, was born. It soon became the most popular route across the Thames. Pedestrian traffic would go up the stairs on either tower and cross the tower bridge to the opposite side and then walk down the stairs and once again into the streets. The reason this second bridge was built over the other, was because the main part below was a draw bridge. When large ships came through, they could raise the bridge until they went by then lower it again so traffic could resume. It really was an ingenious feat of engineering and imagination.
            The service tunnel that Coward had told her of, was a narrow thin path that ran just under the pedestrian tower bridge. He obviously intended her to go this route so she could stay hidden without someone spotting her and she was small enough to fit without the risk of getting stuck.
            Shaking her head she continued up the stairs another flight, where she saw doors. “Thank God.” She said feeling as though she had finally found her way. She moved towards the door on the left as she had been instructed and pushed it open. Much to her dismay, she found herself standing on the tower bridge. She must have gone up one too many flights. This was unbelievable. Why on earth did the designers of this city make things so incredibly difficult and complicated?
            She turned going back into the door to try and find the door she missed and started to go back down the stairs, but she stopped hearing the sound of footsteps coming from below. Looking down over the banister, she tried to see what it was but couldn’t even begin to make out a figure at such an angle.
            Rather than risk it, she turned and hurried back out the door onto the bridge. Gathering her skirts and the cloak she began to run as fast as she could to get to the other side, to afraid to look behind her or slow down.
            Once to the other side, feeling as though she had successfully evaded her shadow she threw the door open and froze in place. She stood face to face with Blackwood, who just stared at her with an incredibly displeased look on his face. He stepped through the door causing Katherine to quickly step back away from him nearly tripping over her own feet. Three of his men stepped from the door behind him. Terrified beyond words she turned and began to run back across the bridge as fast as she could.
            Almost to the opposite door, she stopped finding more familiar faces that she had seen on occasion having come up the tower behind her. “Oh God.” She said under her breath as her heart pounded in her chest. There were only two on this side. She looked behind her to see Blackwood approaching with his thugs in tow and she turned back to the two men standing close to her. She had to get away, she couldn’t go back with him. Not now. After everything that she had learned and now knew about him, she couldn’t live with him another day. She couldn’t stand the thought of him touching her again.
            Reaching under the cloak she brought out the dagger that Coward had equipped her with and ran towards the two men. When they reached out to catch her, she spun about slicing one’s arm and across the others face pushing them aside with a hard shove as they fell back in shock from the pain of the wounds she’d inflicted.
            Blackwood saw her make it pass the two men, as he began to run across the bridge. Katherine burst through the doors and hurried down the stairs, her skirts hiked high above her knees so she wouldn’t get tangled in them and fall. She stopped her retreat for a moment when she heard shouting coming from above her, and more from below. Her entire body trembled as she looked around for some sort of escape. Luckily, she found a door that no doubt let to the second balcony that led to the outside walkway that surrounded the tower. Rushing to it, she frowned when she found it jammed hard shut. Obviously not having been used frequently. She rammed her shoulder against it, and it gave slightly but not nearly enough.
            Wrapping her hand around the charm she took a deep breath to clear her head and stepped back kicking the door twice with her boot as it flung open. Running outside she looked around and saw a steal ladder made of rebar that were embedded in the stone of the wall that led down the side of the tower.
            Katherine had never been very comfortable around heights but it seemed as though she had little choice. Another problem was, she was feeling dizzy and her stomach was upset again but she definitely couldn’t stop now.
            Hoping up onto the balcony railing she reached out and grasped a rung of the ladder, and quickly stepped out starting to climb down. She had no idea how high up she was, and she certainly didn’t want to know. She just kept moving hand over hand until she found that there were no more rungs. She had to look.
            Turning she found she was only six feet from the ground below and carefully planned her jump, before pushing back from the wall and hopping down. She didn’t land as gracefully as she hoped falling to her hands and knees, but it could have been worse and she could have fallen on her head. She stood and quickly started to run across the bridge as fast as she could, despite the fact the world seemed to be spinning around her. If she could just make it to the coach that Lord Coward had arranged so she wouldn’t be on foot anymore, they could run the horses and be halfway out of the city before Blackwood could catch up with them.

End of the Line
            Katherine thought she had made it and a small sense of relief and accomplishment came over her when she found herself on the opposite side of the bridge. However it quickly fled when she found no coach where Lord Coward said it would be. She didn’t see any coaches anywhere in the area, like they had all been cleared out.
            When she heard more shouting coming from the bridge, she gathered her skirts and ran across the street and around the corner finding herself in a shipping yard that operated off the nearby docks. There were crates and boxes in every direction, and supplies that had been unloaded or were waiting to be shipped.
            Not having much choice with no destination now, she quickly hid herself in the vast maze of supply boxes and just hoped that they wouldn’t find her. Katherine wrapped her hand around her charm, closing her eyes and just tried to slow her breathing.
            A few moments passed before a voice broke the silence and filled the yard. “You’ve come to the end of this escapade, Katherine. You’ve nowhere left to run.” Her eyes opened as her breath caught in her throat. “It’s better now if you simply come home.” She didn’t answer and she could hear his voice moving as he walked around the shipping yard. “I can’t imagine that all of this is good for the child.”
            As sick as she had been feeling the entire night, she couldn’t imagine it was good for either of them. “The baby is safer with me then it would ever be with you.” She said before quickly moving from the spot she’d spoken from so he couldn’t home in on where she was.
            “Had to clear his conscience to you did he?” Blackwood said as his eyes moved around the yard looking for any movement that would help him locate her. “In the end, Coward lived down to his name didn’t he.”
            “You murdered our daughters in cold blood. Did you really think you could keep such a horrific thing a secret?” She said as she moved again trying to make it to an exit that she could take to get out of this place, but the one she was closest to she found guarded by those who had been accompanying Blackwood on the bridge. She had to find another way out.
            “I did what was best for them in the end, Katherine.” He said trying to get her to speak again. “It was purely mercy and I spared both them and you from a lifetime of misery.”
            “Who are you to say that their lives would have been miserable? They were not yours to throw away!” She shouted feeling a sense of anger that he didn’t seem to have the smallest bit of remorse. “No more than the countless other young women you murdered for the sake of your power.” Katherine kept moving each time she spoke, knowing he would be following her, but also trying to keep him distracted at the same time.
            “You’ve always known my purpose, Katherine. Even those that weren’t sacrificed as offerings.” He said having a feeling he knew what direction she was headed in. “You knew of my actions, and were even relieved when you found the adulteress you felt I betrayed you with, no longer walked this earth.” Katherine stopped cold in her tracks when she heard him say that recalling her reaction when he told her of it. She was ashamed then, and even more ashamed now that she felt relieved and that it was justified. She really had let things get out of control and turned a blind eye.
            “Something I have to pay for. Not my children. They are innocent, and entrusted to me to protect. I won’t fail them again.” She said as she quickly started to move again staying low behind the boxes.
            “You?” He said, “You can’t even protect yourself.”
            “Better then you think.” She said simply as she ducked under several beams that were stacked near the dock.
            Blackwood knew now where she was going, and also knew that she was trapping herself in a corner. He made his way around the large containers, heading for the docks.
            Katherine started to run down the long pathway as quickly as she could but stopped suddenly nearly sliding over the end of the pier. It was a long way down and there were jagged rocks in every direction. She looked around and started to panic when she saw no way down, and even if she did the waves of the river would easily smash her into the rocks before she could find a way back up onto the shore.
            “All the years we’ve been married,” Katherine spun around and saw Blackwood blocking the only way on or off the pier. “I would have thought you would have learned better then to defy me.”
            “To save my children . . . I would defy god himself.” She said biting back the tears. Katherine was beyond tired, the emotions, the fear, all the running and panic. It had taken its toll, and even if he didn’t corner her, she didn’t know how much longer she could have kept going.
            “You can’t change what’s meant to be, Katherine. No matter what you imagine, no matter what false sense of entitlement you’ve developed. You and all of our issue are mine to do with as I choose. You will give me the sons I want, and daughters . . . .” His eyes moved towards her abdomen where the current child resided. “Their fates are already written. At least now that you know, I won’t have to go to such great lengths to dispose of them.” His voice, his face, even his eyes were all so cold. As though there wasn’t a human feeling in them, as though he had no soul inside. She looked down a moment tears starting to flow from her eyes. She felt so helpless and trapped.
            “If you run, I will find you. You will never be rid of me, I’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth, and bring you back to where you belong.” He warned. “There’s no point in drawing out this little charade of yours any longer. There is no place you can hide from me.”
            Blackwood started to walk towards her but stopped when she brought the gun up from under her cloak and pulled the hammer back pointing it directly at him. Katherine’s eyes turned up towards him, as her hair blew in the wind. It was a mess from everything that had gone on, and the first rays of the sun were starting to light up the sky.
            She stared at him in silence, as more tears escaped her eyes. How did everything go so horribly wrong? How did they get to this point? The man who had given her everything, had cared for her these years was now starring down the barrel of a pistol she held in her hand. Blackwood’s face was crossed with rage that she would hold a gun on him to begin with, how dare she. He jerked his sword from his cane as he stared into her eyes.
            “You could just let us go.” She whispered, her voice trembling. “You could just step aside and let me go. I would take care of our children, you know that I would.”
            “You still don’t understand do you.” He said. “You and my sons are the key, the key to the future. I ask so little of you, and would give you the world in return. You would rule it by my side, forever.”
            “My children are my world. The only world I want.” Before he could continue she pulled the trigger and a bullet flew through the air and passed through his shoulder. Katherine jumped at the sound and at his yell of pain. He felt to his knees still holding his arm. Her eyes were wide as she felt sick and shaky inside.
            She took a step towards him but stopped, not knowing what she was thinking or what to do. “You little bitch.” He spat through his teeth. Katherine lifted her gun pointing it at him again, not knowing what she was supposed to do. She looked around wishing that someone else would come, anyone else in the world.
            It was the wrong thing to do, for when she turned her head Blackwood picked up a stone he’d fallen on and threw it at her, striking her on the side of the head. It struck her with such force that she fell backwards to the ground. That split moment was all Blackwood needed to thrust himself up and lunge at her.
            Katherine turned over and saw where the gun had fallen and started to crawl towards it. Blood was dripping down the side of her head where the stone had struck, and she could hardly see.
            Blackwood landed just near her and reached out grabbing her ankle, jerking her back towards him and flipping her over on her back. He hit her hard with his hand two and then three times before he reached out and grabbed the front of her dress and jerked her up looking into her eyes. “You have no idea how miserable the rest of your life is going to be. You’ve been mourning for never knowing your daughters . . . from this day on, you’ll never know your sons either. Should the next child you have be a girl . . . . you’ll watch as I peel the flesh from her body, and burn what’s left on the alter before she di . . . . .”
            Suddenly, his words stopped as it seemed he couldn’t breathe. Tears flooded from Katherine’s eyes as he looked down seeing the dagger in both her hands that she had plunged into his chest. Before anything else happened, Katherine shoved the knife into him the rest of the way with all her strength. Blackwood fell to his side on the ground next to her his hand around the hilt of the dagger. His eyes looked back to hers, as his face went pale and then white . . . .and she saw the life leave his eyes as his body fell to the ground.
            Katherine couldn’t breathe, as she just stared at him blood pooling around him from the wound. “Henry.” She breathed.
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Dark Rituals