Chapter .1.
A man pulled Holmes out of the water turned to the woman that was waiting on the shore.
"Josephina he is going to need a lot of help", the man says to the woman
"I know brother. Sherlock has always been difficult. Charlus you know that", Josephina says looking at her brother Sherlock and her brother Charlus
Suddenly Sherlock grabs Josephina's wrist.
"Don't…tell…anyone…I am…alive", Sherlock gasps
"Sherlock", Josephina says
"Please", Sherlock says
"Alright. We will just tell Mycroft and of course Dr Watson", Josephina says
"Not…Watson…deserves…a…free…life…from…me…with…Mary", Sherlock says
"Alright. Sleep brother we have to travel and get you to Holmes Mansion", Josephina says as Sherlock goes back to being unconscious
"Josie. Damion, Noah Septimus, John, Louis and Leopold have bought horses. We will make a stretcher to carry him in between the horses", Charlus says
"Sherlock!" a woman says climbing off her horse and to Sherlock's side
"We need to get him warm Charlotte", Josephina says
"Will my husband survive?" Charlotte asks as Josephina works to bind the injuries of her brother
"I honestly don't know", Josephina says
The days of travel where hazardous. The siblings pressed on riding hard to get Sherlock to the family mansion. Sherlock was in really bad shape when they arrived. He was running a high fever. The Holmes sisters where taking turns nursing him back to health.
Charlotte, Sherlock's wife sat next to Sherlock's bed with a wet cloth wiping is sweating forehead. Sherlock looks at her.
"Char", he rasps
"Shh Sherlock rest", Charlotte says kissing his sweating forehead
"Have someone watch Watson and Mary", Sherlock says
Charlotte decides to keep her husband talking.
"Why do they need to be watched?" Charlotte asks
"Moriarty. I survived the fall he could have. And his second in command", Sherlock says
"Moriarty the man responsible for my sister Irene's death?" Charlotte asks
"Yes", Sherlock says wincing as he moves his injured shoulder
"Where are my siblings?" Sherlock asks
"Around. Sherlock rest", Charlotte says
Sherlock goes back into a fevered sleep. His siblings could only watch as he fought a battle with death. The Holmes siblings couldn't help him. With all their curses they couldn't.
The days passed and Sherlock's shoulder got infected again. The infection was raging in the bone. Josephina was at her wits end. She knew that his shoulder would never be the same again. Mycroft arrived saying that everyone thought Sherlock dead. Apparently Dr Watson is devastated.
"You know Sherlock he will never forgive you when you come out of being alive", Mycroft says to his ill brother
"I have been selfish. That is also one of my curses", Sherlock says wincing at moving
"If you say. But you're protecting them now. That dear brother is not selfish", Mycroft says
"I don't expect Watson to forgive me. Is Noah protecting Watson and Mary?" Sherlock asks
"He is. He reports all is normal at the moment", Dezmond says coming into the room
"Good. Tell Charlus I want him out looking for Moriarty. I want to know my enemy", Sherlock says
"Sherlock! You need to rest. Boys out of my husband's room", Charlotte says shooing all the Holmes boys out
"Always a way with us", Sherlock says mildly
"You need to rest. You have already had two fevers in the space of 7 months. You're not healthy yet. Rest my love", Charlotte says kissing his forehead
"By the way when did Madame Simza and Septimus start seeing each other?" Sherlock asks
Charlotte rolls her eyes at her husbands question. Of course he will notice.
"He obviously hasn't told her he is a Holmes. Or she would be here. Tell him to get a move on", Sherlock says
"I'll tell him. Get some sleep", Charlotte says kissing his forehead
"You come with me", Sherlock says taking her hand wincing
"Alright. I love you", Charlotte says
"That is nice", Sherlock says falling asleep
Septimus had been courting Madame Simza. He wanted to tell her the family secret and who he was. Septimus wondered what she would say when she learns Sherlock was alive. Not healthy. Yet. But alive. He decided to tell her. His brother Sherlock would have a laugh at his sudden courage.
"Madame I need to be honest with you. It is because I love you I will share my secrets with you", Septimus says
"What do you need to be honest about?" Madame Simza asks
"I haven't told you my last name. Once you know it. It will change how you see about me. So will my other secrets", Septimus says as they walk through the trees
"What have you hidden?" Madame Simza asks
"Do you want to come to my family home? It will be easier to explain there. That's if you trust me enough", Septimus says
Madame Simza looks at Septimus. She just knew she can trust him.
"So where is this family place?" Madame Simza asks
"In England. Will you do me the honour of letting me escort you to England?" Septimus asks
"You may", Madame Simza says
They reach England days later and Septimus shows Simza to the Mansion.
"This is the family mansion", Septimus says as they arrive
"It is great. So what IS your last name?" Simza asks
"I am Septimus Holmes. Brother to Sherlock Holmes", Septimus says nervously
"You're his brother?" Simza asks
"Yes. This is Holmes Mansion. All my family leave here", Septimus says
"So you have siblings other than Mycroft and Sherlock who died?" Simza asks
"Yes I will introduce you. But first I have to tell you. Our family is … different", Septimus says
"Different how?" Simza asks
"I sure hope you don't run when you hear this", Septimus says
"I am sure it is not that bad", Simza replies
"Our family is cursed. Have been for generations", Septimus says watching her carefully
"Cursed?" Simza asks, "How?"
"We don't know how. Just each Holmes generation that has the Holmes blood in them are cursed. No one is an acceptation. Except the spouse. But our mother had been cursed too. So we have bad curses on us", Septimus says
"What curse do you have on you?" Simza asks
"I can do magic. It is a curse because it could get me killed and a blessing because I can help people that are not family. I am the 7th son", Septimus says
"Why can't you help your family?" Simza asks
"That is a curse. Most of our curses don't work on family. Even my nieces and nephews have curses on them. This is not a life we choose. Our mother had the curse to always have children. So that is why I have so many siblings", Septimus says
"Can I meet your siblings?" Simza asks
"You're not running?" Septimus asks
"No", Simza says
"I owe Sherlock then. He said you wouldn't care", Septimus says
"Sherlock is dead", Simza states
"That is another secret. He is alive. Not well. But alive. You can see him later. But nobody is to know he is alive. He doesn't want that. Not even Doctor Watson is to know", Septimus says
"Why are you telling me?" Simza asks
"Because I want to marry you. That's if you will have me? Curse and all" Septimus asks showing Simza the ring he had bought her
"I will. Love you Septimus", Simza says
Septimus kisses her and places the ring on her finger.
"Would you like to meet the family you are going to be apart off?" Septimus asks smiling
"Of course. I am sure I will like them", Simza says as they walk into the mansion
A woman that was pregnant sees them first and smiles.
"You must be Simza. I am Cassandra the 9th Holmes sibling. It is a pleasure to meet you and this is my husband Malcolm", Cassandra says smiling with her husband
"You too Cassandra", Simza says
"Did Septimus tell you about our family?" Cassandra asks
"Yes. I am sorry for your family being cursed", Simza says
"It is what it is. So you believe that we are cursed?" Cassandra asks
"It is unheard off. But I believe it", Simza says
"Hello Simza. I am Josephina the oldest female in my siblings and this is my husband Andrew", Josephina says smiling coming down
"Pleasure to meet you Josephina", Simza says getting a hug from Josephina
"I am Joan. I am the 13th Holmes sibling. This is my husband Sebastian", Joan says
"I am Joanna. I am the 14th Holmes sibling and this is my husband Owen", Joanna says
"You're twins?" Simza asks
"Yes", Joan and Joanna say together
"I am Seraphina. I am the 3rd Holmes sibling. Josephina is my older twin. This is my husband Robert", Seraphina says, "You will make a wonderful family member"
"How do you know? If you don't mind me asking", Simza asks
"I can see the past, present and future of non-family members. When you become a family member I will not be able to see you anymore. That is my curse", Seraphina says
"I am Sashandra. I am Cassandra's older twin. I am the 8th sibling. This is my husband George", Sashandra says smiling
"Nice to meet you", Simza says
"I am Sienna. I am the twelfth sibling and this is my husband James. I can honestly say I am pleased to meet you", Sienna says smiling softly
"Honestly?" Simza says
"I am cursed to always tell the truth and always know the truth", Sienna says
"I am Selena Holmes I am the fifteenth sibling. This is my husband Arthur", Selena says
"Pleasure to meet you Selena", Simza says getting a hug from Selena
"I am Leopold the 20th and last sibling and this is my wife Elizabeth", Leopold says
"I am John the 16th sibling. This is my wife Leanne", John says
"Pleasure to meet you Leopold, John", Simza says smiling
"I am Dezmond the 10th sibling. This is my wife Isabella", Dezmond says
"I am Alexandra the 18th sibling. This is my husband Edward", Alexandra says
"I am Damion the 6th sibling. This is my wife Sarah", Damion says
"I am Louis the 19th sibling. This is my wife Alberta", Louis says
The others say their names till it was Lenora's turn.
"And I am Lenora the 17th sibling. This is my husband Alfred", Lenora says
"We are just missing Mycroft, Noah and Charlus. And Sherlock is upstairs", Septimus says
"It is nice to meet you all", Simza says
"Your not phased that we are cursed?" Alexandra asks
"A little. But I will get used to it", Simza says
"She is telling the truth", Sienna says softly
"Can I see Sherlock?" Simza asks
"Of course. Come we will see if he is awake", Josephina says leading Septimus and Simza to Sherlock's room
Knocking on the door they hear a voice say come in. Josephina opens the door and Simza sees Sherlock for the first time in over a year. He looked bad but he was alert. A woman sat next to him.
"Madame Simza", Sherlock says, "Shocked I am alive?"
"Very. Are you ok?" Simza asks
"Never better", Sherlock says
"He is lying. He has a fever again. I am Charlotte Idler by the way Sherlock's wife", Charlotte says
"I can help you nurse him back to health", Simza offers
"I am a doctor. I would like the help", Josephina says smiling liking Simza
"I don't need you all fussing over me", Sherlock says
"Yes you do", the women say
"Women", Sherlock mutters
The women laugh.
"Septimus finally proposed", Sherlock states
"Yes I did. Simza is going to be part of the family", Septimus says wrapping an arm around Simza
"More evil women", Sherlock mutters coursing everyone to laugh
Author's Note: What do you think? Please review