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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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Pressing On
            “That was a disaster.” Watson said following Sherlock into his room. “I know that somewhere you have a bit of tact. Did you have to go so far as all of that in front of 100 people?” The Doctor said in frustration.
            “You know as well as I do the majority of the men there are already in Blackwood’s vest pocket, and they weren’t going to have a favorable opinion of us no matter what our actions might have been.” Holmes said taking off his Jacket and shaking it a few times.
            “What about Katherine?” He asked. “Did she really deserve to be humiliated like that?”
            “I was simply testing to make sure that Blackwood didn’t decide to redo the brainwashing that we had undone. She hides her independence of thought quite well, but she still obtains it.” He answered.
            “Yes, but at the same time, you knew full well there was a reason she was wearing that style of dress. You didn’t have to point out that she was pregnant when she didn’t want it to be shown.” Watson shook his head, “I don’t understand why young women who are wives and not trollops have to be so ashamed of being with child. That just points to the vanity of the upper class.”
            “True. But in her case, I don’t think vanity is the problem. At least not hers. Her husbands, however, most likely wants to continue to give off the impression that he is above everyone else. Therefore his human wife, can have a child without it being noticed by the public. Silly, yet very affective.” Holmes said.
            “She didn’t look well. She’d be six or seven months now. I have the distinct feeling that this pregnancy is taking a toll on her like the first one did.” Watson stated. “Once she’s already had a child, it’s suppose to become easier, not harder to bring a baby into this world.”
            “Morning sickness again?” Holmes asked. Watson gave a nod that it was the most likely answer. “You’ll find many women who suffer from it tend to say that it’s a faulty name. They get sick through the day and night.” He said.
            “Another factor of her youth do you suppose?”
            “It must be. Although what we know for certain is that both Blackwood’s mother, and Katherine’s mother died in child birth. She’s already beaten the odds but that is a recipe for difficulties if I ever heard one.” The doctor replied.
            “It’s an interesting coincidence. I wonder what sort of spin Blackwood has put on it to benefit him. I’m sure it’s fascinating.”

Late Nights
            Katherine sat quietly in the hallway, wrapped in her cloak with her hood pulled down over her eyes. She was tired and the light only made the headache she had that much worse. The chime of the clock indicated it was nearly midnight and well past her bedtime. Yet here is where she waited, and had been waiting for Blackwood to collect her so they could return home.
            She placed her hand over the swell of her abdomen and sighed. It didn’t matter if she was tired and ready for sleep, the baby was wide awake and active and making his presence known. There was no doubt in her mind that the baby was healthy, as each kick that it made couldn’t hurt more if someone had kicked her in the stomach outside of her body.
            Leaning her head back against the wall she closed her eyes for what she thought was only a moment. But when she opened them again she found herself in their carriage sitting next to Blackwood with her head leaning against the wall.
            “Where are we?” She asked a bit disoriented.
            “Nearly home. I thought it best not to wake you.” He said reaching over and tucking a stray strand of hair back from her face. “You haven’t slept very well this past week. I apologize for keeping you up so late.”
            “Why were we there today?” She asked a bit confused. “The meeting isn’t for another two weeks.”
            “It was an emergency meeting. Some urgent matters needed to be attended to immediately.” He said. “Nothing to concern yourself with, it’s all been taken care of.” Just then the carriage hit a bump in the road and Katherine’s eyes went wide as one hand rested over her abdomen and the other flew to her mouth feeling incredibly nauseous. Blackwood frowned when she closed her eyes and turned away from him. “You’re not feeling well.” He stated reaching over and turning her towards him, holding her close letting her lean on him instead of the wall. “Perhaps we should limit your outings until the baby is born.” He said.
            They road in silence for a little while, but as the carriage started down the driveway of the manor, Katherine’s voice broke the silence. “Perhaps this should be our last child?” She said softly.
            She could almost feel Blackwood’s jaw tense, and him collecting his composure so as not to shout at her or treat her to harshly when she wasn’t feeling well. “No.” He said simply. Katherine already knew that it was most likely not going to be a suggestion that was taken well. But as sick as she felt right now, she was willing to risk it.
            When they arrived home, Blackwood exited the carriage first and Katherine started to follow but stumbled slightly. The doorman started to reach for her, but Blackwood stopped him and pushed him out of the way. Then he helped Katherine to her feet and swept her up into his arms carrying her up the stairs of the Blackwood Manor.

Restricted to Bed Rest
            Katherine lay back against her pillows with a sigh not very happy with being cooped up all day. Not to mention that this was not where she was supposed to be tonight. Her eyes glanced over to the clock and it was now nearly 3 in the morning. She sighed again in frustration and simply waited.
            Just a short while later, the doors of the bedchamber opened and Blackwood came inside, turning and locking them up before he started to take off his jacket. Katherine frowned and just waited, watching him until he was down to his black undershirt and walked towards the bed removing his cufflinks.
            Blackwood could feel her staring at him, and glanced towards her seeing the very displeased look crossing her face. “My dear Katherine, such a sour look tends to mar your beauty.” He stated walking over and putting away his cufflinks. “Is something wrong?”
            “I was supposed to be there tonight. You needed me for one of the rituals to be performed.” She said.
            “Not you specifically.” He said, “You are due very soon and the doctors said that in bed is where you are to remain until the baby is born.”
            “What do you mean not me specifically?” She questioned, not really hearing anything he said beyond that.
            He turned looking at her and half smiled approaching the bed where she lay. “A woman was all that was needed, Katherine. Nowhere does it say that it had to be my wife for this ritual.” Katherine couldn’t believe it and just stared at him.
            “What?” She said hardly able to get the syllable out.
            “Honestly Katherine, are you going to take such a small thing to heart?” He asked walking over and pouring himself a drink before walking back to her and sitting on the corner of the bed. “You are my wife, and the mother of my children.” He rubbed her leg slightly that lay under the blankets. “It’s not as though it was a sorted affair, it was a necessary action.” Then he took a casual drink from his glass.
            Needless to say, Katherine was stunned as she just stared at him in wide eyed disbelief. It was as though he didn’t even think twice about it or have a moment’s hesitation, and now it seemed as nothing had happened at all.
            “Necessary?” She said, “You resulted from such a ‘routine’ action with someone who was not your father’s wife. What’s to stop it from happening this time?” She asked still horrified at this.
            “It won’t. And my father’s wife was not a practitioner as you are.” He said. “All of the ceremonies he participated in as the head of our order were always with someone that wasn’t his bride.” He stated.
            “How is any of that supposed to make this right?” She said still to shocked to play down how hurt she was by this. “You just have someone . . .waiting . . . for . . .to take . . .to take my place?” She said starting to stutter.
            “Katherine your upsetting yourself now, why are you acting like this?” He questioned.
            “I’m your wife!” She exclaimed starting to sit up even further leaning towards him. “How am I supposed to act? The whole reason I went through everything I did last year is so that I could be at your side, and be there for ceremonies that required such intimate contact. You promised me that our marriage wouldn’t be like your parents marriages!” She said her voice starting to rise with each word and her voice became more excited.
            “You were in no condition to accompany me tonight, and until the child arrives you are in no condition to participate in such activities!” He said his own voice starting to raise now.
            “HENRY!” She shouted, calling him by his name for the first time since her ‘reeducation’ was completed. “I keep my emotions to myself, push them down and hide them from you, I do as you say without question, participate in your order as a practitioner, and bare your children for you. You and no one else . . . . how is this fair? How is this right? How could you DO this???”
            Suddenly, without warning, Blackwood’s hands lashed out as he held her face in place leaning closer to her. Katherine realized her mistake and fell silent, her eyes starring wide into his. “The only way you could have such righteous indignation and sense of entitlement is if I didn’t completely rid you of all that nonsense you were fed growing up in that orphanage.” He said in a dark voice.
            “You would be just as upset, if not more if it was me who betrayed you.” She said in a soft voice, still starring into his eyes as several tears escaped and slid down her face.
            Blackwood fell silent a moment, as his anger seemed to turn from her back into himself a moment. “It wasn’t betrayal, Katherine.” He said, “It had to be done. There was no enjoyment taken, no passion or pleasure other than pure carnal instinct.” He stated. Katherine wasn’t sure but it almost sounded as though he was making his case, trying to convince her that it was nothing and didn’t mean anything. His eyes continued to stare into hers as he held her face tight in his hands. Blackwood had realized that this had nothing to do with religious belief or even marital rules and rites so much as her heart being hurt feeling as though he had betrayed her. “I can only promise you that no child will result of that union.” He said in a whisper.
            “I know what is involved in the ceremony, Henry.” She whispered more tears escaping her eyes, “How can you be certain.”
            Blackwood’s look softened slightly before he sighed and leaned up kissing her forehead, before looking back into her eyes, “Because she hasn’t lived to tell the tale.” Katherine just looked into his eyes, “She wasn’t a practitioner either. I couldn’t risk her telling of what she saw and what took place.”
            Katherine closed her eyes, as Blackwood kissed her head again before wrapping his arm around her holding her tight against him. She felt an overwhelming sense of shame that she was actually relieved to hear that. A girl had died tonight. And she actually felt relieved by it instead of revolted. Her stomach turned and she couldn’t help but wonder what she had become.

Children of Blackwood
            “Strange.” Holmes said reading his newspaper. “She didn’t contact us this time.”
            “Hmm? Who?” Watson asked turning and leaning over looking into the paper that Holmes had been scanning.
            “This says that the new arrival was a boy.” Watson said scanning the article. “There was no need for us.”
            “Yes but she didn’t know that.” Holmes stated. “There was the same 50%/50% chance that this one could have been a girl and could have faced immediate execution.”
            “Maybe Blackwood had her under strict guard this time. So she couldn’t get word out to us.” Watson suggested.
            “She has shown herself to be very clever in the past, I’ve no doubt that she would have gotten word to us if she had wanted to send for us in the first place.” Holmes stated. After a moment he folded up the paper and tossed it aside. “She’s getting more comfortable with her husband’s extracurricular activities and the order.”
            “If you are living in the thick of something and are constantly being bombarded with it day after day . . . you would be amazed at what you could get used to. I learned that first hand from the war.” Watson said reaching over and picking up the paper to read the birth announcement that had been posted.
            Sherlock was silent as he thought about things for a moment. “Still no new reports of strange and disturbing scenes of murder victims that are synonymous with Blackwood’s style is there.”
            “No, and I think that is something to be thankful for.” Watson admitted.
            “Either that or he has learned to cover his tracts and clean up after himself.” Holmes mentioned.
            “He’s already risen from the grave twice. Why would he need to make a third display of power. Not to mention this time, after being fooled twice, he would be cremated to make sure no mistakes were made or anything was overlooked.” Watson said.
            “Now he’s keeping these things he’s doing private. He doesn’t want to be caught, or stopped, or attention drawn towards him. Leaving evidence behind would serve no purpose and be completely foolish.” Sherlock said. “I think our last inside connection has official dried up.”
            “You mean Katherine? I think you may be jumping to conclusions. She still loves her children and if they are in any real danger she will contact us.” Watson said.
            “Watson, you have a remarkable faith in human beings that I don’t think I’ve had since about the age of six. You have to start realizing that sometimes people take a turn for the worst, and you can’t save them.” He said seriously.
            “I can’t believe that that young woman has sold her soul to the devil just because her husband has.” Watson argued.
            “You said it yourself, being constantly bombarded with something over and over can help you accept something much easier than you would have never considered accepting before.” Holmes admitted.
            “I can’t believe that.” Watson said. “She’s not someone who would put her children in danger. No matter what sort of beliefs she’s been forced into adhering to.”

Celebrations
            “Katherine, for God’s sake would you hurry up.” Blackwood said impatiently feeling as though they should have long since left by now.
            “I can’t go out like this, I just can’t.” Her voice came from behind the changing screen. “I’ll catch my death of cold.”
            “No, you won’t. You’ll be inside where it is very warm and you can attest to the heat on the alters when they are surrounded by fires.” He countered checking his watch again. “Would you kindly hurry yourself.”
            A few moments passed before Katherine came nervously out from behind the changing screen with a frown on her face and her eyes focused directly on the floor below. She was in a beautiful deep onyx crushed velvet dress that was form fitting. Two large oblong shapes on either side of the dress showed her lovely figure and fair skin. There were slits in the skirt of the dress that went past her knees causing the material to drape around her perfectly.
            “You look absolutely beautiful.” He commented, “I cannot see what you are suddenly so concerned about.” Blackwood said picking up Katherine’s cloak and wrapping it around her shoulders. Immediately the young woman reached up and fastened the clasped pulling the robe tightly around her.
            “Must I wear a garment so revealing, My Lord?” She asked horrified that she was to go out in public this way.
            Blackwood paused a moment and looked at her, before half smiling thinking how silly she was being. “Katherine. Tonight you take the mark of our order. You have done well, and you are to be rewarded.” She was quiet and just looked into his eyes. “You’re absolutely breath taking and have nothing to worry about, nor anything to be ashamed of.”
            “You’re going to burn me.” She said finding that a rather odd reward for a job well done.
            “No, I’m going to brand you with the sacred ox of the leader of the order. There is a vast difference I assure you.” He said. “This is an honor bestowed on very few, and you seem to not even want it.” He said.
            “Where’s your mark.” She said simply trying not to sound flip or disobedient but was trying to make a point.
            He arched a brow looking at her a moment, “Katherine.” He said coming to a stop when they’d been approaching the door. “How are you to be my priestess if you are not properly ordained? Hmmm?”
            Katherine frowned her eyes turning downcast a moment. She didn’t want to be the priestess of evil. It seemed at this point she had absolutely no choice. When she fell silent, Blackwood opened the door and stepped aside to let her exit first. He followed her after she walked passed him closing the door behind.

Unscheduled Visits
            Katherine sat in the study with a book open in her hand reading the passages it held. Her leg, although rather unladylike, was draped over the large arm of the oversized chair she was sitting in. As though it was the only comfortable position she could find.
            She sighed as her eyes looked up from the book although not turning around to look behind her. “How on earth did you get past the servants and the guards.” She said simply not exactly impressed or surprised.
            “Guards?” Watson’s voice said.
            “Henry calls them house servants, but they are guards. Who else would carry weapons at all times.” She answered still not moving or getting up from her seat. The two men circled the chair seeing her and the rather unruly way she was sitting. She closed the book and put it down in her lap. “I assume you’ve come because you know that Lord Blackwood has left the city and won’t be back until Friday.” She said.
            “You seem to have quite a skill of deductive reasoning of your own.” Holmes said. “How did you know it was us? You didn’t seem very upset at the thought that unauthorized personnel had appeared in your rooms without so much as a word.”
            “Nothing frightens me anymore, Mr. Holmes. Even less now then the last time we had this conversation. Is there something I can do for the two of you.” She said slightly impatient, obviously uncomfortable with company at the moment. Most likely because of how she was sitting, and the very real fact that she couldn’t adjust it.
            “We need to ask you a few things, if you could answer them.” Holmes said.
            “I can try.” She answered.
            “How many women has your husband killed this year?” He asked.
            Katherine arched a brow at the question. “One I know of.” She said simply and honestly.
            Watson glanced at Holmes when she answered the question easily without shock at the accusation. “You are aware that the majority of practices and rituals that your husband participates in and conducts requires human body parts, aren’t you?” The inspector said.
            “Unfortunately all to well.” She answered directly. “That does not mean that he uses me to ‘collect’ what he needs, nor share with me how he came by them.”
            “How do you know of the one woman he killed then and not the others?” Holmes asked.
            “Because he told me of that one, and I suppose that I sort of asked.” She said with a sigh, “Is there a point to these questions or have you simply come to study my face when you ask them.”
            “Murder has gone down these past few years in London quite a bit, but the number of abductions has risen to almost twice what it was. We think your husband is the most likely reason for that.” Holmes said.
            “You seem surprised.” She said causing the hair on both Sherlock and Watson’s necks to bristle. That was a phrase that Blackwood used often and they had both heard it on separate occasions. “Inspector, I am cooperating with you to the best of my ability. With a simple call out, I could not only have you removed from our home but one of the missing persons cases that you are following so staunchly.” She said as fact not as a threat. “I cannot help you with these things, and I don’t know why you continually return to me as though I could. All you do is risk getting the both of us into more trouble.”
            “Katherine,” Watson said looking towards her. “Why are you sitting like that? Are you alright?” He said calling all attention directly to the elephant in the room. She grew quiet as her eyes turned downcast. When she didn’t answer, Watson stood and walked over to her. “Show me?” He questioned.
            She rolled her eyes and sighed before putting her book down on the table beside the oversized chair. Reaching over, she pulled her skirts and petticoats far up her leg. Holmes glanced away a moment feeling a bit rude but his attention turned back to her again when a white bandage was wrapped around her thigh, obviously covering a wound that rested on her inner thigh. She untied the bandage, and carefully, slowly starting to unwrap it. Watson could see she was having trouble and took over carefully unwrapping it the rest of the way.
            There was a huge blister with solid black lines that started to form an ox head like the one that was shown on both her ring and the one that Blackwood wore. It was red all around it and the rawness of the wound showed it was only a day or two old. Both men winced a bit not wanting to imagine the pain she endured or the pain she was in now.
            “With Henry gone today, I thought I was free to sit the most comfortable way I could find.” She said still not raising her eyes towards the doctor or his friend. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
            “Where’s your medicine cabinet?” Watson asked. Katherine pointed over towards what looked like a simple wall panel. The doctor stood and walked over opening it as it pulled out to be a drawer.
            Holmes studied the mark another moment, before realizing it was embarrassing her. “What . . . sort of discretion led to this disfigurement?” He asked breaking the uneasy silence.
            “A job well done.” She said softly still not quite understanding how this was a reward for anything.
            Watson returned carrying a few items with him, smoothing some suave he mixed over the wound, before replacing the bandage with a fresh clean one, retying it for her. “That should help the pain, and encourage faster healing.” He reassured her as she pulled her skirts back down.
            “If there is no other degree of humiliation you wish to expose me to, perhaps you should be going now before your presence is discovered.” She said just wanting to be alone now.
            “Aren’t you just a little curious as to how all these grisly murders, and ghastly rituals tie in with your children?” Holmes asked.
            “Henry assures me it is to make certain that they are protected from all things harmful to them in this world and any other.” She answered. “That is why we go to such . . .incredible lengths to see that everything is done properly as we’re instructed to do so in his books.” She sounded as if she was reciting something she had heard or said a hundred times over.
            Holmes just stared at her for several minutes, “I’m sorry, but are you mentally retarded?” He asked.
            “Excuse me?” Katherine said in shock.
            “I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to an intelligent, well educated woman on many occasions since our first acquaintance. Now every word you say is rationalizing his monstrous behavior. Aiding and abetting a murderer, letting him disfigure you at his leisure!”
            “Do you think I want this? Do you think I want any of this!?” Katherine shouted at him, “Do you think I want this for my children?” She closed her eyes. Turning her face she looked away. “The sorts of things their father would expose them to. Twisting and turning their God given innocence until there as cold and without pity as he is.” Tears where filling her eyes, but she was holding them back. Refusing to let them fall.
            Holmes was quiet now. Watson glared at him slightly, even though he knew it had to be said. With a slight sigh he walked closer to her, sitting down on the foot stool next to her chair. “Then help us.” He said in a much gentler voice then before. “The only way that you, your children and the whole of London is ever going to be safe is if he is caught and at the very least locked away.”
            “They won’t lock him away now. You know that.” She said. “What you’re asking me is to condemn him to certain death.” After a moment of silence she shook her head, “No. Whatever else I do, I won’t turn on him.”
            “What about your children.” Watson asked.
            “If it’s between your black hearted, evil, murderous husband and your innocent children . . . where then would your loyalties lie?” Holmes asked.
            “You’ve no feeling heart in you to ask me such a thing.” Katherine said.
            “It’s a decision you have to make, Katherine.” Watson said trying to be softer with showing her the reality was in. “Sooner or later, that is what the choice comes down to.”
            Katherine looked at Watson, and the two men could tell by the look in her eyes that it was something she already knew. Closing her eyes, she covered her face with her hand, as the tears finally fell from her eyes and slid down her cheeks.
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Dark Rituals