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

Chapter List
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Medium of Instrumentality
            Blackwood walked into the chamber where Katherine was studying the books she had been given to read. He walked over with his hands clasped behind his back as he circled her, just observing her as she read. “Katherine.” He said coming to a stop just beside her.
            Instantly, she closed her book and turned to face him waiting for him to address her further. He half smiled seeing her immediate compliance. “Where is our son, today.” He questioned.
            “With his nanny in the nursery.” She answered directly. Blackwood was rather pleased with her automatic honesty, without hesitation.
            “You’re lessons. How are you fairing in our practices and beliefs.” He said.
            “The Temple of the Four Orders was founded by the knights templar based on the beliefs of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, and grounded in the use and practice of blood, elemental, and sympathetic magic’s. The sacred ox being the symbol of the order, and the sphinx a doorway to the supernatural and mystic world.” She said.
            “I see you’ve paid particular attention to your history lessons.” Blackwood commented. “Understanding the belief systems that opened these doorways to us . . . to me, is crustal. So tell me, what else have you learned?” He questioned. “About the practices that you once found distasteful and disquieting?” He said moving closer and starring into her eyes that were still somewhat dilated. “Such as the ceremony that ultimately led to the birth of our son.”
            “Copulation and reproduction is another gateway, to yet another world and another level of power. It is vital for the head of the order to pass through all gateways into other worlds and open others to maintain his position of the head of the order.” She responded.
            Blackwood was increasingly impressed with the knowledge she had absorbed and maintained. He stepped beside her and leaned down close to her face. “Doorways, that must be opened to bring our children into this world. You are one such doorway, a conduit for the Blackwood line.”
            “Yes, My Lord.” She said addressing him as she was told over and over was the only way in which to do so. She’d not called him Henry since her reconditioning had begun, making absolute certain that she understood her place and that he was her Lord and Master. She was not his equal, but his subordinate.
            He smiled. “Tonight, you will be returned to me and no longer sleep by yourself.” Reaching up, he stroked her jaw line with his fingertips slightly before running his fingers through her hair. “You’ll take your place, once more by my side, and share my bed.”
            “Yes, My Lord.” She said obediently.
            “You’ve done quite well. Made substantial progress. Now we will find out just how much of your teaching you’ve retained. If there is any need for further ‘instruction’.” He said touching her milky white skin with his fingertips, just tracing the line of her neck to her shoulder.

Unorthodox
            “I think it’s a new record that we’re not accustomed to seeing. Blackwood’s gruesome trail of murders seems to have come to an end. It’s been more than a year since LaStrade came across dead bodies under bazaar occult circumstances.” Watson noted.
            “Unfortunately, Blackwood’s murders have not come to an end. We simply haven’t uncovered proof of his new method for taking the lives of those who offend him or hinder him in his plans.” Holmes said.
            “Proof?” Watson asked. “You think you know his new method?” He asked.

            “Katherine, is his new method.” He stated.
            “Her of all people? She wouldn’t take a life, I doubt if she is capable of even harming one.” Watson said a bit defensively.
            “She may not even know that she is doing it, but several people who would be in Blackwood’s way have turned up deceased.” He glanced at Watson. “Of course, it’s just a hunch really, but . . . if you were feeling adventurous, you could help me test my theory.”
            “Why do I suddenly get a bad feeling stirring around in my stomach?” The doctor said with a sigh.
            “Probably something you ate, I’m sure.” He sat back in his chair, “I’ve extended a formal invitation to Lady Blackwood to join us for dinner. Much to my surprise, she not only accepted but Blackwood gave his permission to let her do so.”
            “You’re joking. Why on earth would he do such a thing? He despises everything about us, and has wanted nothing more than to keep Katherine away from us. Does he intend to accompany her?” He questioned.
            “No. She’s going to dine with us by herself.” He reached for the letter that accepted his invitation and handed it to Watson to read for himself. “You see, I had a feeling that he would allow it. Who would he want out of his way and off the earth more than such huge annoyances as us. Who better to get close to us, then the young woman we’ve more or less made our hobby.”
            “In a public place? Do you really think an attempt will be made?” He asked.
            “There’s no doubt in my mind. I’m curious to see how she’ll accomplish it myself.” He said standing from where he was seated. “I think perhaps we should begin to get ready. Don’t want to be late for our engagement.”

Dinner
            When Katherine entered the room, every eye in the building seemed to turn towards her. She was always dressed in clothing designed to draw the eye. The dark colors she wore when she was not attending a funeral were particularly distracting.
            “Even without Blackwood, she’s a moving black hole of depression.” Sherlock mentioned as both he and Watson stood from where they sat to greet her. Both men took note of her ‘escort’ who was no doubt also a body guard. He didn’t sit with them, but he stood nearby should she need assistance or if someone tried to assail her in any way.
            “Hello Katherine, How good it is to see you again.” Watson said taking her hand and placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
            “Yes, you look rather well this evening.” Holmes added wanting to see her reactions. Already he could see that her pupils weren’t nearly as dilated as the last time they had met, and she was much more responsive then before. Even managing a polite smile before taking her seat and their doing the same.
            “To be honest, we were rather surprised that Lord Blackwood gave his permission for you to meet with us.” Watson admitted. “We didn’t think we were on the best of terms with him.”
            “The two of you are the only ones I’ve really had contact outside of the order. The closest I have to friends in this world.” She answered. “Lord Blackwood prefers that I socialize outside of the house now and then. Although I don’t think he would have permitted me to go to your home.”
            Holmes arched a brow slightly hearing her call him ‘Lord Blackwood’. It separated them as a married couple somewhat, as he recalled her referring to him as Henry before. Much more formal now than then.
            “We received word of the birth of your son.” Watson continued, “I know it’s nearly a year late, but congratulations.”
            “Thank you.” She said reaching out and taking her glass once Watson had filled it with wine. Her sleeve slid up her arm somewhat showing some bruises on her wrist as she brought the wine glass to her lips to take a drink.
            “My,” Sherlock said, “Such horrendous marks on your skin.” He mentioned reaching for her hand when she set down her wine glass again and bringing it closer to him, moving her sleeve up a bit to show them again in case Watson hadn’t seen. The automatic assumption was that they were made by Lord Blackwood, and there were no doubt more marks of the like on other places of her body.
            “Yes.” She said taking her hand back from him, “They have many sisters.” She admitted. “Lord Blackwood feels that I should learn the art of defending oneself, that I shouldn’t be such a helpless kitten without someone protecting me all of the time. Unfortunately, the knowledge and skill does not come quickly or easily. It takes hours of practice each day and a wrong or false move can result in . . . injuries.” She said not wishing to say more on the matter.
            “Really?” Holmes said latching on to this not ready to let it go quiet yet, “Rather progressive of him I must say. May I inquire as to which of the many self defense arts is he having you trained in?” Watson glanced at Holmes feeling as though he was starting to push a bit hard for what was supposed to be a social meeting of friends.
            She didn’t answer, and at that moment it seemed as though she drifted somewhere else completely disregarding the question. As though she hadn’t been instructed to respond in that area, and it was better left ignored. Before Holmes could make a further inquiry, dinner was served as the meal was laid out before them on the table.
            They didn’t seem to have anything to say for a short while and simply began to eat their dinner in silence. Holmes eyes never wondered far from Katherine, as he studied the way she held herself, the way she looked, her clothing, and her jewelry. Particularly a new piece that she had not been wearing before that seemed to draw his eye more than once, a piece of jewelry of a design that was not completely unknown to him.
            “How do you like motherhood thus far?” Watson said finally deciding to try and continue their visit, even though it had become somewhat awkward and uncomfortable when Holmes pointed out the bruises.
            “It’s wonderful.” She replied. “Our son is very bright, and has the most beautiful green eyes.” Holmes noticed the way her eyes seemed to light up when she spoke of her son. A definite change from any other time since his birth. “Lord Blackwood is seeing that he is properly instructed each day.” The light in her eyes dimmed and disappeared with her words.
            “Properly instructed?” Holmes said, “Isn’t it a little early to start ‘instructing’ him in anything?”
            “It is never to early to begin teaching children, Mr. Holmes.” She replied taking another drink from her glass. “I would think that you of all people would approve of teaching children young so they may grow to be well educated.”
            Just then, a boy came to the table with a message for Watson. Standing from the table the doctor excused himself walking to the foyer of the dining hall. Holmes quickly excused himself as well following after the doctor.
            The two men stood there for several moments, as Holmes peered through the stained glass windows watching the young woman. “How long do you think until we should return?” Watson asked.
            “Any moment now.” Holmes said. “I believe I’ve ascertained her methods.”
            “Already?” Watson said in amazement.
            “She is rather swift in her purpose.” Holmes replied. “Unfortunately they are just as I expected. I had hoped she wouldn’t be so predictable and there was a challenge to this mystery.”
            “Oh yes, because using ourselves as bait isn’t excitement enough.” Watson said. The two men headed back to their seats at the table regaining their smiles as they took their seats. “I apologize, Katherine. I’m afraid we tend to be on call for the Yard all hours of the day.” Watson said, “Where were we?”
            “I was saying my goodbyes.” She said, “Lord Blackwood is expecting me home within the hour.” Her bodyguard moved behind her helping her up and wrapping her cloak around her shoulders. Holmes and Watson stood and thanked her for joining them. As soon as she turned heading for the ladies powder room before going to her carriage, Watson and Holmes took a few drops from one of their wine glasses and mixed it with a chemical in a small vile to see the reaction. The two men looked at each other a moment.
            Katherine made certain that her appearance was still flawless in the mirror before she started out of the powder room and down the hallway. “I had hoped that you wouldn’t be so terribly common.” Holmes voice said causing her to come to a stop. She turned and looked at him. “Poison? How like a woman to chose such a detached method of murdering her victims.”
            “I don’t know what you mean.” She stated looking at him directly.
            Holmes held up the small vile which had a greenish tinge, “A very slow acting poison. I dare say that we wouldn’t have died until later this evening after we had retired. Being found dead in the morning, there was no reason for you to scurry away once you left the table.”
            Katherine turned again seeing Watson standing behind her with a grim look on his face. The disappointment he felt at the discovery of her trying to murder them was unfathomable. Her eyes turned back towards Holmes as she said nothing. He walked closer to her. “You’re husband has managed to gain so much influence over your thoughts and your actions that killing and murder are now as common place to you as changing your attire.” Holmes took her hand showing the large ring that she wore on her right middle finger. He flipped the top open with his thumb showing Watson the hidden chamber below the jewel. “A ring with a secret compartment, meant to store poison until the wearer empties it into a glass. He released her hand.
            Watson just looked at her a moment, “Katherine,” He said calling her attention towards him. “Why would you do this?” He asked. “You, who have devoted yourself so staunchly to Christian teachings . . . . have let yourself be turned into a murderess.”
            “The secrecy of the order is imperative.” She said almost mechanically, “The two of you have demonstrated repeatedly since you first affected Lord Blackwood’s arrest and execution, the unforgiveable amount of knowledge you hold of the orders inner practices.” Holmes and Watson glanced at each other hearing the way she recited those words as if she had been told them or recited them hundreds of times.
            “I think perhaps our visit needs to be taken to a more private location.” Holmes said when suddenly Watson wrapped one arm around Katherine, and held a cloth soaked in chloroform over her mouth. She struggled for several moments before her body fell completely limp in his arms.
            “Good God, she must be wearing 100 pounds of material.” Watson said readjusting the way he was holding her.
            “We need to make our departure now before her rather large shadow realizes something’s wrong.” Holmes took Katherine from Watson and swept her up into his arms as the two men hurried out the back way.

Now What?
            “Well . . . this is great.” Watson said leaning against the door with his arms crossed. “Now what are we supposed to do with your kidnapped brainwash victim?”
            “I believe you were the one that knocked her unconscious.” Holmes said as he finished tying her hands together.
            “I’m not at all certain we thought this out completely, Holmes.” Watson admitted. “We can’t undo a years worth of reconditioning in one night, and Blackwood is going to know who took her, and would have been informed of her disappearance perhaps an hour after we took her. I still think we should have done something to subdue the guard to buy more time.”
            “Except with a public crowd, we would have been the ones in the wrong Watson. With the majority of the law in Blackwood’s pocket, we would have found ourselves facing the hangmen’s noose.” Holmes explained.
            “So now that we have her, what on earth do you propose we do with her? She’s not going to be nearly as cooperative with us as she was last time. She’s loyal and faithful to Blackwood completely.” Watson said.
            “You certainly tend to look on the negative side of things these days don’t you, doctor.” Holmes pointed out as he checked the restraints they’d put on her to make sure they were secure. “I’m assuming that you don’t want her to face execution, and she will if it’s discovered that she was poisoning such incredibly influencal men in parliament. Perhaps if we can find out the ambition behind these carefully selected murder victims it will give us clues as to Blackwood’s current plan of world domination.”
            “And what if we do. What is the use of having knowledge of such things if we are powerless to affect the situation.” Holmes turned and looked at his friend. “This entire endeavor is absolutely hopeless.” Sherlock stood and walked over to Watson studying him for what seemed like a long time. “What?” Watson said a bit uncomfortable by the extended silence.
            “I’ve never heard you talk like this before.” Holmes stated. “It’s a bit unnerving to hear any doctor, especially you, say that anything is hopeless.” He said eyeing the doctor scrupulously. “What on earth has gotten into you?”
            “Holmes, we’ve worked on this case for more than a year. Nothing has improved only gotten worse, we’ve resolved nothing, and we are no closer to helping this girl then we were before. Even if we did find something solid and concrete, who are we supposed to report it to? The police? The Yard? The number of people who have made it their practice to look away from all of Blackwood’s misdeeds, and anything else that might incriminate him!” Watson’s voice had begun to raise until he was shouting.
            The loud way that Watson had begun to rant woke up Katherine and she began to stir. Holmes gave Watson a look, “We’ll have to continue your little tiff later.” He said under his breath before the two men turned and walked to the bed where Katherine was laying. Watson sat down beside her and took her pulse feeling her skin. Katherine licked her lips as her tongue ran over the metallic taste in her mouth.
            “It’s a side effect from the Chloroform” Watson explained. “Which I do apologize for but it was much more gentle then other means we had discussed.” Her eyes opened and she seemed like she was a bit dazed as she closed her eyes tight before opening them again looking at the two faces that looked down at her. She started to get up, only to find that she had been tied down. She jerked at her restraints to no avail.
            “I’m afraid those are necessary to. At least for now.” Holmes said. “Depending on your level of cooperation we may remove them before to long.”
            “My husband will have your heads for this. I’m expected home hours ago.” She said after having seen the time on the clock which sat on the mantel.
            “Katherine,” Holmes began as Watson stood from the bed and Holmes took his seat. “You are an intelligent, well educated, . . . smart girl. A bit naive perhaps, but only because you are young and haven’t learned yet. But you do learn, rather quickly I’ve noticed in the short time that we’ve known you.” He looked into her eyes, “I can only imagine the rigorous and brutal retraining that was employed to shackle your mind this way. What was done to break your will, and replace it with Blackwood’s. For that I am sorry.”
            “I made a mistake when I came to you for help.” She said in a softer voice, “My husband is the only man whose help I should accept.”
            Watson looked at Holmes when they heard her speak. “Even though your husband was willing to kill your child should he have been born a daughter?” Holmes answered never taking his eyes from hers. This silenced her, and her eyes turned downcast. That spark of hesitation as her own thoughts seemed to override the ones that had been forced into her mind . . . was promising and perhaps was the way in that the two men needed to give her back what was taken from her.

Rage and Fury
            Blackwood sat in silence with a dark look on his face as Katherine’s bodyguard recounted the tale of how he lost her. That he looked everywhere, inside and out, all around the building, and found no other trace of her except her handkerchief which she must have dropped when she was taken.
            When the man had finished his story, Blackwood stood from his chair and walked to him. “I charged you with one simple duty.” He began. “To protect my wife, and never leave her side.”
            “I did, My Lord. But I couldn’t accompany her to the powder room.” He said in his defense. “I stood by the door and listened closely but I saw no one come or go . . . .” Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes went wide and in an instant the man slid to the floor, dead. In Blackwood’s hand was a bloodied dagger he had been concealing. Lord Coward who was also in the room stood and watched the scene and said nothing.
            “I think it’s quite obvious who has her.” Blackwood said taking out his own handkerchief and wiping the blood from the blade. “Call your men,” He said as he tossed the now bloodied handkerchief down onto the lifeless body by his feet, as he began to exit. “And clean that up.”
            “Yes, My Lord.” Coward answered obediently.

Stubbornness
            “This is going nowhere.” Watson said as he looked at Sherlock.
            “Patience, my good doctor.” Sherlock said. “She will come around, we just have to find the right key to unlock her mind.”
            “She’s not going to give in. The strongest weapon that Blackwood has in his arsenal is fear, and he wields it all too well. She is completely shrouded in it.” He said. “At least before she was facing her fears instead of succumbing to them, but it seems that time has passed.”
            “Her son is the key.” Holmes said, “It was obviously the disagreement that she and Blackwood had which led to her current condition.” He ran his fingers through his hair a few times as he thought. “Several shocks might just do the trick.”
            “Shocks??” Watson asked.
            “Not the electrical kind, I’m not one to torture young women. That seems to be Blackwood’s hobby, not mine.” Sherlock said. “Things that she really cares about, things that no matter how much Blackwood and his followers drummed in her ears their beliefs . . . stayed intact.” Sherlock took a moment looking over Watson. “You are definitely not the one for this, to neat and far to clean.” He said turning and walking away.
            “What?” Watson said with a puzzled look on his face following after him, “Holmes?”

Testing Morality
            Holmes was quiet for several moments as he sat beside Katherine who was sleeping, still restrained. Finally resolving himself to his task, he reached up and cut her restraints. Katherine stirred a bit and opened her eyes looking up at him, a little confused as to what was going on. Holmes cut the rope on her feet put away the knife out of her reach.
            “You’re letting me go?” She asked.
            “In a manner of speaking.” He said with a sigh rubbing his hands on his knees.
            “I don’t understand.” She said not certain what this new tactic was. “You don’t think I’ll try to run?” She questioned.
            “Tell me,” Holmes began sliding a bit closer to her. Close enough that it made her uncomfortable and she scooted back as much as possible, only to find herself pressed against the wall the bed was against. “Does Lord Blackwood intend to breed more children?” He said gazing into her eyes with a dead on stare.
            She seemed a bit embarrassed that he had just asked her such a thing. “Yes.” She replied, barely able to keep eye contact with him.
            Sherlock moved even closer to where he was more than invading her space. Not knowing what kind of self defense she had been trained in. However, he stayed alert and cautious as to whatever she might do. He wasn’t exactly comfortable with this himself but he wasn’t about to let her know it. “So I can assume then, that you do not sleep in separate beds.”
            “How dare you question me in such things.” She said her voice a bit shaky, “Things that are of no business or concern of yo . . . .” Before she could say another word, Holmes reached out and seized her shoulders before kissing her roughly.
            She tried to struggle but it was no use, and she cried out into his mouth tasting the alcohol on his lips. His wits were quite about him, but he did have a few drinks to get the courage up to implement his plan, as distasteful as it was. Her hands reached up and began to claw at him, her nails scratching his skin trying to get him to let her go. Holmes grabbed her wrists and twisted her arms around behind her back before kissing her again, then moving to her neck and biting the skin slightly. Enough to make a mark but not enough to break the skin. She cried out again, as she struggled even harder trying to find leverage of any kind to use to pry herself free, but there was none to be found. When he went for her mouth again, she bit down on his lip to deter him from doing that again.
            Watson was standing just in the next room, fully aware of what was going on and standing at the ready should Holmes call for assistance. Katherine was going to be unpredictable no matter what method they used in an attempt to bring her back from where she was thrust into. Watson was even less comfortable with this then Holmes was, and heard Katherine cry out more than once. Forcing him to resist the urge to run to her aid.
            Holmes thrust his weight forward making her lie flat on the bed beneath him pinning her there with his weight, still keeping her arms twisted behind her back. The only way he could get her into a position where he could actually look down at her with a small amount of distance between them. “Do you make such a huge fuss when Blackwood comes at you?” He questioned. She clinched her jaw and threw her body about beneath him trying to knock him off of her to no avail. He could see that she was in pain the tighter he clinched her wrists in his hands with the dark bruises that were prevalent on both of her arms. “Or any one of the men in the order when you lay with them?” He said pressing his weight down on her further. “How about the men you murdered on Blackwood’s behalf. Did they lay beside you as you poisoned their drink, in the final throws of passion?” He said.
            “NO ONE IS TO TOUCH ME!” She cried, “LORD BLACKWOOD IS MY ONLY LOVER!” She kicked her feet but they didn’t make contact to anything but the mattress. “If you continue in this way, you’ll sign your own death warrant.” She said between her teeth her eyes wide and filled with fear.
            Holmes found this whole situation distasteful, but there wasn’t much choice. Neither he nor Watson was willing to use the same tactics on her as Blackwood and the order did. They had no intention of using chemicals or torture on her, even though this was quite brutal in its own right, it seemed the most humane way to affect a shock that might bring her around. Unfortunately, her speech patterns had not changed and it seemed that Holmes was going to have to take this a bit further.
            “I find it hard to believe that the devil would ever hesitate to send his concubine to seduce and murder his enemies.” He said before kissing her again even more aggressively than before. He shifted to where he was laying on top of her, and she could feel his body against hers.
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Dark Rituals