The Ruby Returns
The sun reflected off the water, sparkling as the current continued to push the water forward. Ambriel sat on the bank, watching the rocks at the bottom tumble as the water swept them away. The river was impossibly clear, clearer than any water source on earth could possibly be. Every small detail under the surface visible, everything could be seen.
The river was an entrance, a doorway to different realms. Azurians could walk into the depths and emerge in whichever planet, realm, or world they wished. Most commonly they used it to go to earth. They were gods there, worshipped among the pagans. They liked the freedom of it, the ability to do whatever they liked free of consequence. Well, free of consequence most of the time.
He'd had a feeling when the sun rose, something about the river. So he came down to the bank, tossed some of his linen summer garments aside, and sat, waiting for whatever his senses were warning him about.
Sure enough, a figure soon emerged from the depths. Ambriel identified him as Beelzebub, from his dark curly hair, as well as his green eyes and brown skin. He was dry, as all people who enter through the river were, despite being submerged in the water.
He opened his mouth, a sentence formed and ready to be said. "Hold your tongue," Ambriel interrupted, "and explain your reasoning for being here, as well as how you got in."
Beelzebub had lost access to the Azurian doors months ago, and was also disowned by his sibling and exiled from Azuria after his betrayal. He was stripped of his weapons and clothing made from Azurian materials, and sent to wander the vastness of the universe, barred only from the place he had supposedly called home. What he used to call home, before trying to destroy everything and everyone in it.
"I've spent many moons crafting a spell to regain entrance to this realm," he replied, "even if only to enter once. I wish to apologise to Azrael, to you, for the harm I have caused. I regret it deeply, and want to be reaccepted as an Azurian. I was one of the first, I deserve to be here among my own. I deserve a second chance."
"You must think me a fool, Beelzebub. You had your chance, in the first months after your exile. Yet in those months you continued to attack us as we did our duties on other planets, vulnerable away from our home." The scent of sulphur filled the air as Ambriel spoke, and copper followed after.
Beelzebub, the Ruby, one of the first six Azurians created, made alonside his sibling Azerah. He was the betrayer. The one who lusted for blood. Some argued it was in his nature, he was the Ruby. The gem was embedded in his chest, where a human would have a heart. The stone each Azurian had was an indicator of their power. It showed what force of nature drove them, the power they had over it. They cared for it. The Ruby meant blood.
Beelzebub was demonic, he turned on his family in the pursuit of power. He went to the forces of hell and worked with them to gain the position of power the Azurians wouldn't let him have. The Azurians didn't believe in having the power to control others. They respected Azrael and her family as a sort of royalty for being the most powerful strength wise. They were royals in title, they represented the Azurians when in gatherings, they represented their power and what they could be when together. But when a decision needed to be made, when a choice was presented, there was no government that chose for the rest of the people. Each and every Azurian got a vote. They were called Anarchists by some, for not having a head group, more powerful than others, the ones to make decisions. Chaos was a part of Azurian life, yes, but there was no chaos in their decision making practices. They were only fair, and if one would consider that anarchy, then anarchists they were.
Beelzebub wanted more. More power, more importance, more everything. He hated not being known, or being deemed unworthy of power. Anger grew in him overtime, resentment as well. Eventually he made his decision, and betrayed Azuria.
His prescense was predatory, Ambriel noticed as he was standing across from him. The look in his eyes implied he was constantly hunting, and each individual he came across was his prey. Even now, as he asked forgiveness for his sins, he couldn't fully rid himself of the look enough to sell the ploy.
"The sad thing is," Ambriel said," this might have actually worked if you had done it earlier. In the week you were first exiled, if you had not continued to attack us, I might have actually believed you."
Beelzebub looked past him, into the distance. If one hadn't known him personally, they might have said that he looked serene, at peace. But Ambriel knew that his gaze meant trouble was brewing.
He met his eyes again and softly said, "I wish you would just allow yourself to trust me again, after all we've been through together..."
"It is time for you to stop, Beelzebub. Why do you think we would allow you a second chance. I know you. I can see the insincerity in your eyes."
"I did not think the others would, but I thought you would."
"Why would you think that?"
"Because I love you, and you love me."
Ambriel scoffed, "You never loved me. You may have thought you did, but if you truly did you would not have betrayed me."
"How did I betray you?"
"You tried to kill me! And my entire family!"
"I did nothing of the sort."
Ambriel laughed a bitter laugh, "Yes, yes you did. You tried to siphon off our energy into yourself. That would have killed us! Do you really not understand that?"
"If it had worked, I could have brought you back after."
"As what, a shell of myself? Would have brought back my mother? My sister? I know you do not care for them as you care for me. You cannot undo something like that."
"No, you cannot. Because you will not allow yourself to cross those lines. Azrael set up boundaries for your power, and like a child you followed her rules. I would have no such restraints, and I refuse to stay bound by her chains!"
"Get out," Ambriel said, sickened by Beelzebub's misunderstanding of what holding power does to a person, "Do the only thing that will save your life and move on. If you continue to come back here, none of us would hesitate to kill you."
Beelzebub's face contorted, fury twisting his features until he was nearly unrecognizable. Yet, despite his anger, he stepped back into the river and was swept away by the current to be spat back out into another realm.