Dusty and the Seven Shudder Sisters - Part 3

This is the seventh in Dusty's stories - as you may have noticed, I came up with a numerical theme for the stories and this is number 7.

What else but the Seven Deadly Sins - and the opposing Seven Heavenly Graces - for this story.

As before, I hope you enjoy the story.

pictures from Google free to use search

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Dusty could hear the women muttering and she concentrated to hear their words. When she recognised the language, her eyes narrowed and she smiled, nodding at them as if to say, ‘I understand’.

The muttering slowed and stopped as they noticed her smile. Then Dusty said, “I know who you are.”

“You think you do; demon-child.” The voice emerged from what Dusty assumed was the elder and she nodded at her, still smiling.

“Oh yes, you are not Valkyrja,” Dusty said and her grin widened as they gasped at the word. “I believe you to be Norns and as such, I give you my respectful greeting which I hope you would pass on to Wyrd, Verdandi and Skuld, and I bid you a good day.”

Dusty bowed to each woman in turn, the eldest first; and then she backed out of the circle a few steps so that she didn’t disrespect the women by turning her back on them too soon. Then she walked away, in the same direction that Ange had gone.

She could hear a frantic muttering behind her and she smiled again. Norns were in town and life would become very interesting for a little while, she guessed.

Dusty strolled into town, thinking about who she had just encountered.

Norns, as she had been taught by her grandparents, were sisters, the most famous three of which were Wyrd which translated to ‘Was’. Verdandi’s more recognised name was ‘Being’ and Skuld who was known as ‘Shall be’.

Past, Present and Future.

They held sway over the fate of every man, woman and child and Dusty was thankful that those three powerful and influential Norn sisters had not decided to grace her with their presence.

The three sisters who presided over the past, present and future fates were far more significant than the seven she had left behind at the park. The three would be too busy dealing with the fates of mankind to bother with her, a half demon of little or no consequence.

As with humans though, the devil makes work for idle thumbs.

Inactivity and boredom or just dissatisfaction with their lot in life can lead to mischief even in the supernatural world.

Those less-important Norns seemed to be influenced by a need to go a-meddling where they were not wanted - just as spats and disputes can fester and grow to conflict in the mortal world, so it is with otherworldly beings. It would appear that the lesser Norns had turned their attention to Dusty for the time-being – who knew what would happen next.

“What happened? What did they say? Did they do anything? Did they...” Ange’s questions fell over themselves as she tried to blurt them all out at once.

Dusty hadn’t had time to sit down before the onslaught began. She put her coffee mug on the table in front of her and held her hands up in surrender.

“One question at a time!” Dusty said. “I know who they are; I just don’t know why they’re here.”

“They’re here for you,” Ange said in an ominous tone.

“Well, yes, I’d figured that out for myself, but why?”

“You just attract trouble. That should be your middle name.”

Dusty grinned at that but the grin didn’t last long. She was wondering why the Norns had come.

“So, who are they?” Ange asked; exasperated at the time Dusty was taking to tell her.

Before Dusty could answer, Ange’s eyes grew wide and she jerked upright in her seat. One of the Shudder Sisters shuffled into the cafe. She was alone and somehow seemed more frail because of that but Ange was still terrified.

The burble of conversation died as the customers watched the lone Shudder Sister make her way across the cafe to the serving counter.

Ange moved her focus from Dusty to the old woman and back in an attempt to get Dusty to look around without having to say anything.

Dusty frowned and leaned forward, curious at Ange’s weird behaviour.

Then she understood and turned around without making it obvious that she was looking for anything in particular.

The old woman was watching Dusty. Her attention was not on the layout of the cafe table arrangements yet she dodged chairs and shopping bags with ease.

She looked at Dusty and Dusty returned the stare. Ange gave a tiny gulp as the old woman’s gaze flicked to her and then back to Dusty but nothing was said and Dusty turned back to Ange before the Shudder Sister had reached the counter.

“She’s still looking at you,” Ange stage-whispered in a panicked little voice.

Dusty grinned at Ange’s obvious fear and said, “So?”

Ange’s mouth dropped open in astonishment at the blasé reaction. Her mouth closed but opened again.