Red Like Ruby (Mostly RubyxDyrroth)

Gods Of The Underworld 1

The Lord of the Underworld sat on his throne with a distant look. He cared naught for the thousands of souls waiting for his judgment nor the loud tortured screams of the damned next door. Even the roaring of the infernal fire fell on deaf ears as Dyrroth, King of the Abyss, indulged in his reverie. The spirits murmured among themselves asking what could have distracted the lord of the dead this much that he would be so neglectful of his duties. After all, a war just broke out among some human nations caused by another petty disagreement between powerful Kings. Such senseless affairs are the primary cause of death in this barbaric era where everyone thinks that they're better than the others. That's why more and more occupants are pouring into the Underworld daily. Regardless, the spirits remained unnerved as the King stared blankly into the nothingness. 

Well, this peculiar phenomenon was simply caused by a brief glance at the face of the goddess of death, the one that collects the soul of the living and delivers them safely into the Underworld. In the eons that they've been working together, Dyrroth had never once cared to take a glance at the goddess. She is a very reserved person who only speaks when necessary and doesn't engage in any socializing. Dyrroth is aware of how vital her role is in the Underworld but he simply couldn't care about any of his colleagues on a personal level due to the colossal amount of work to be made to keep the realm of the dead working and, for the irony of it, alive. 

Even if the Abyss is the realm of the dead it is not something that exists just so. It needs the soul of the living as sustenance to maintain its internal functions and for that, the goddess of death is of utmost importance. While he decides the fate of every dead mortal and commands his legion of demons, Morrigan, as she is most frequently referred to among her many names, designs the different levels of the Underworld where the souls are kept based on how they lived their life. 

It's not that he never spoke to her but the rare moments they did were only brief and entirely professional. Additionally, she never used her true voice to speak to anyone. Whenever they spoke, her voice always sounded so artificial and raspy, like something you would expect of someone choking on their own blood. Morrigan always wore a terrifying and melancholic facade. She's not as talkative or as upfront as his two female torturers but she makes herself known when someone is disrespecting her or is jeopardizing the Underworld. 

"What might be the matter, my lord?" asked Selena with a perpetual evil grin on her lips. She is one of the worst torturers of the Underworld along with her sister. 

"If you are feeling unwell then the two of us could take it from here whilst you rest." suggested the stoic Karina. 

"There's no need for that. I am in perfect condition just... deep in thought "

"Ohhh? You're thinking about a girl aren't you, my lord? Is there something interesting that happened? Something sensual?" implied Selena, wanting to hear of gossip. 

Dyrroth recalled to them the events that led to his reverie hoping that they could shed some light on his thoughts. He was casually strolling in the lowest levels of the Abyss where they kept the oldest tenants of the underworld which are mostly prehistoric monsters and beasts. He was always fascinated by the terrifyingly grotesque children of Tiamat as they would make for excellent war beasts. 

As he was thoughtlessly enjoying his stroll, massive creatures from the Jurassic era, dinosaurs as they are called, came running in a panic. He wasn't used to their eccentric appearance so he had no idea that they were as majestic as they were terrifying since dinosaurs are kept very deep in the Underworld. He was astounded by its peculiar appearance that it took him long to react to the imminent danger about to trample him but just then someone had swooped in and saved him. 

He recognized the red fabric of the cloak of the goddess of death but what he didn't recognize was the beautiful face that greeted him. In the eons they've spent working together never once did he see the face of the goddess of death until now. Morrigan is a very shy and reserved person though she holds herself with dignity and pride.

For a moment he just gawked at her face after her hood fell on her shoulders. When you think about the goddess of death you would imagine something morbid and foul. Well, this girl was otherwise. Instead of the old shriveled-up woman he imagined her to be, Morrigan is actually a young-looking maiden. He noted the distinct gold of her hair, a rare trait among the natural inhabitants of the Underworld, and swooned at her gleaming sapphire eyes. Her face was gentle, her features were delicate. Everything about her is refined and gorgeous that he couldn't stop himself from lifting his hand and reaching out to touch the porcelain skin of her cheeks. There was a certain melancholy to her features that made her beauty more captivating and unforgettable. 

When his cold fingers made the slightest contact with her soft cheeks, she immediately recoiled in utter surprise as if electrified by his touch. The crimson hood was immediately pulled over her head and her cloak enclosed around her body to hide her beautiful form. 

"My apologies, Lord Dyrroth. It seems that someone had accidentally let the dinosaurs escape. I will see to it that everything is sorted. Farewell." came her melodious voice like sweet dripping honey. 

She bowed to him respectfully before running away to chase the dinosaurs and return them to their proper place. The beauty of her face haunted his mind since then. 

"So seeing the face of the goddess of death made you all this swoony?" concluded Selena as she played with her demonic pet snake. 

"Well, Mistress Rubisviel has always been beautiful. She came from Etheria after all. She was originally a goddess of the heavens but the other gods gifted her to the Underworld to take care of the souls of their mortal worshippers. In exchange, she is invincible here and in the mortal world." informed Karina. 

"Her name is Ruby? Wait, she's more powerful than me?" Dyrroth questioned incredulously. 

"You may have been the son of Erebus my Lord but she is the daughter of the heavenly queen  Rhongomyniad and the ancient God-King Melgaesh. She was supposed to be the queen of the gods after her mother perished but the other gods wanted the power for themselves. Mistress Rubisviel, who was only a child at that time, couldn't do anything."

"Well, she seems satisfied with her station. And she's doing an excellent job. If Lord Dyrroth is the brain of the Underworld that commands the whole kingdom of the dead then Mistress Ruby is the beating heart that sustains the realm. In essence, she is your queen." Selena summarized making the demon king brighten. 

"She's my wife? And I never knew it until now?"

"What? Not like that, I mean she outranks you. You're a lord, she's a queen."

"I'm the king! I'm not just some lord. I rule this place."

"Well, that's what everyone thinks but those who have been here longer know otherwise. You should talk to her sometimes, she's a great company and confidant." suggested Karina before the two sisters left to return to their post of torturing the wicked. 

"Hmm... I must investigate the goddess of death. But not because I'm curious and interested in her. Definitely not. I'm just seeking recon."

"My lord, the spirits are waiting." reminded Karina from the bottom of the stairs of his high dais. 

"I knew that." he replied, rolling his eyes before finally doing his tasks. He finally noticed the long line of spirits waiting for their judgment. The line stretched far into the shores of the River Styx, which is one league away from his palace. He sighed in exasperation. It seems that he needs to wait for a while before seeing the goddess of death again. Not that he's excited about it or anything.