Dusty the Demon Hunter - A Blast from the Past - Six Tasks - Part 5

Six Tasks - A Dusty The Demon Hunter tale.

Dusty's 6th story.

After the second story had divulged itself to me, I thought it might be a good idea to theme the stories with numbers. Obviously, it was too late for 'Double Trouble' and perhaps that would have been a little obvious anyway, but Trouble Times Three worked well.

Santa and Doppelganger became the 4th and 5th stories and then Six Tasks arrived in my head - Seven arrived with a nice reference to Viking mythology and I enjoyed writing that. I have an idea for eight and possibly nine, but they're still mulling themselves over in my headspace somewhere.

Neither six nor seven have been shared for free anywhere else, so this and the next are true exclusives for Steemit.com

I enjoyed writing this, the sixth of Dusty's adventures. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Pictures from Google Free to use Image Search, gifs from Giphy.com

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“How did you know?” the disembodied voice asked with another annoying laugh.

“I’m not telling you my secrets. What do you take me for?” Dusty said in a tone filled with scorn.

The laughter that filled the air ranged from a delighted tinkling sound to a maniacal cackle, through to a deep rumbling belly-laugh. It could have come from many different sources but they both knew that it came from only one.

“The Prince of Lies,” Dusty said to Hunter. She didn’t bother to keep her voice low. She knew that her words could be heard, however quietly she spoke.

Another laugh, genuine and hearty exploded all around them at her words.

“You are your father’s daughter indeed, young one.”

Dusty tensed in anger at the mention of her father, the demon that had slain her mother.

Hunter placed his hand on her arm to calm her.

They heard an awful and agonised cry behind them and they turned to see the shimmering room contracting and shrinking down to nothing.

The sound came from the room and Dusty couldn’t make up her mind if it was the sound of the matter creaking as it shrank or if it was a living organism that was crying its protest at being snuffed out.

As the room became smaller, the creaking increased in volume and agony until the room was almost so small that they couldn’t see it.

The tortured wailing ceased abruptly and the room imploded with a bright flash that made Dusty and Hunter shield their eyes.

In the moment that the bright light occurred, just before she had to shield her eyes, Dusty saw beyond the darkness that they were not in a cave; they were in unfathomable emptiness.

There were no boundary walls within sight and Dusty was worried because their only way home had been removed.

“Are you going to show yourself?” Dusty asked in a calm and even tone.

“Why would he do that?” Hunter whispered.

Dusty looked at Hunter and shrugged her shoulders. “I dunno, I just thought I’d ask, see what he did.”

They were not surprised by the peal of laughter; it seemed to be the theme for the day.

Dusty sighed and sat on the ground. Hunter looked down at her and then sat beside her, his knee touching hers.

“Do you have any idea why I was brought here?” she asked Hunter.

He shook his head and said: “Not got a clue.”

“I thought it was a test of some sort, but I don’t remember you saying that you’d gone through this.”

“I haven’t. I don’t think any of my family have either. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“But it is a test, I just know it. I think that when you arrived, you threw it a little off-kilter but I’ve been tested for stamina, fearlessness, intelligence and then instinct. I hate to think what’s coming next.”

Hunter was about to respond but another shimmering thing appeared in the air just before them. They both scrambled to their feet and backed off a little.

They faced it side by side, shoulder to shoulder.

The shimmering began to take on a shape, the form of a being a little taller than they were but not so very much bigger. It began to look like a man and they were both relieved when the figure appeared to be human, though they knew it was probably nothing of the sort.

The figure was male and handsome. He had dark hair and dark eyes and a carefree attitude that Dusty was instantly attracted to.

She glanced at Hunter and saw that he was glaring at the creature.

She didn’t know what he could see but she understood that he disliked it.

Dusty adjusted her perceptions and just to be on the safe side, she touched a finger to the unicorn rope.

The newcomer ignored Hunter and focused on Dusty.

He smiled at her but the smile faltered when she didn’t return it.

He studied her with an expression of a wounded and betrayed animal and Dusty began to melt.

Hunter took hold of her hand and squeezed it gently.

The newcomer’s expression changed then.

He realised that Dusty wasn’t going to be so easily fooled and his form shimmered as he changed to a more usual appearance.

He was still human in shape and dark-haired and dark-eyed but he was not quite so perfect or attractive – he seemed normal.

Dusty and Hunter looked at each other and grinned.

They nodded once and both together said: “Loyalty.”

It was their turn to laugh but they didn’t spend any time relishing their understanding.

They didn’t take their attention from the newcomer, who they guessed was the instigator of these tests – the Prince of Lies as Dusty had called him earlier – the very Devil himself.

The Devil didn’t seem upset or annoyed by their humour; in fact, he seemed to join in with it.

Dusty had been brought up to be respectful and well-mannered and the Devil smiled as she initiated conversation.

“Sir, I believe you know who we are and I have made an assumption as to who you are but if I am wrong in that assumption, I would appreciate it if you would let me know.”

“You are not wrong, Dusty. I am as you first thought, the Prince of Lies, the Devil, Belial, Satan, Lucifer, Abaddon, Apollyon, the tempter and son of perdition.”

His mouth twisted itself into such an evil leer at Dusty and Hunter’s worried expressions that they both took a step back and gripped each other’s hand tighter.

The evil leer disappeared and he waved a hand to calm their fears.

“No, Dusty, don’t worry. I am not trying to harm you. I have a question to ask you, nothing more.”