Something I came up with on the fly. I hadn't bothered to spell-check or edit anything. Yeah, I know it's sloppy but I loved doing it. Enjoy.
He stood still. Hands bound in a metal forged from the flames of Mt. Vesuvius. Looking up, he could see the ripple of the sky, a shining sun danced above, it’s rays darting like jagged swords into his eyes inflicting a pain that appeared to mock and yet -- beckon him to arise from his watery hell.
Yet he could not. Both his wrists and ankles fixed him firmly to the ocean floor and all he could do was to stare ahead forlornly. Contemplating the insanity that pervaded his being, swirling inches from his skin as he stood albeit slightly hunched to endure the madness that he found himself corrupted by.
The ocean current swirled gently against his body, a hurried embrace for which he dearly enjoyed. He did not relish the days when his lover’s fingers swelled into a fist that relentlessly pounded him with unapologetic fury. There were times when his mouth opened wide in a noiseless scream, unable to force anything but angry bubbles that darted wildly to the surface.
For a God as he, such impotence of action was a daring blow to the monstrous ego he once harboured. He had felt over the centuries, the gradual explosion and contraction of his consciousness. Folding onto itself until he was left with nothing more than a speck intent on eventual redemption.
For that day shall surely come, he thought. Floating inches off the sand that grated the soles of his bare feet. He recalled the day of incarceration, summoning forth memories strengthened by countless amounts of recollection.
They called him The Lamb. It was he who ordered the enslavement of not just himself, but others like him. By who’s authority, he has yet to acknowledge and subject himself towards. The Lamb claimed jurisdiction of the sea, or more accurately -- conquered these waters using a form of magic that appeared incomprehensible -- almost impossible for one such as he to reckon and properly shore up defences against.
As he stood with his army of ocean dwellers to his rear -- the Christian God looked upon him with a measure of pity that infuriated him. How dare this interloper stand against him with such disrespect.
The memories threatened to engulf him, as they have many times before. Infecting each cell of his body with a terrible resentment and a futile desire to break free from the bonds that he reluctantly accepted.
Over the centuries, he had tested these chains. Hoping that with time, a sharp jerk would undo at least one link. Yet this did not happen. Would not happen. Until the day of reckoning emerged.
So he stood in his watery prison. Eyes towards the surface, feeling the hair on his head reach towards the sky, swaying with the current. All he could do was watch.
And squeeze out a salty tear that blended in with the surroundings.
Had he been utterly and completely alone, he may have given in to the occasional urge to communicate his servitude to the being that had conquered him. Yet, he was not alone. He still had his mind. His pride. His strength of will.
And his friends. Ancestors of a time long past who would sometimes swim by and share stories of surface dwellers, ships, migration patterns. Some have even paused to mock and deride the predicament that he was in. These worms were given a sneer and a narrowing of hateful eyes to which they fearfully absconded from.
He longed for the dolphins. They were good company and have passed down the knowledge of his reign to their pods. The whales also were a kind and respectful lot. Many creatures choose to avoid him altogether, yet these two did not.
About once every second full moon, he would be paid a visit by the Kraken. A monstrosity that remained as ageless as he. A proud and devoted servant to his cause.
The Kraken was about sixty feet long, with short stubby legs and a multitude of foot-tall tentacles that covered it’s entire underbelly. Thick, heavy scales covered it’s back terminating at the brow and revealing small green orbs which passed for eyes. Unblinking, and with a mouth twisted in perpetual malice; the Kraken made for quite the formidable adversity against the half-Gods he had once been to war against.
Yet the Christ was an opponent that the Kraken could not overcome. The scenario played out in his mind. Shards of light permeated the water and inflicted a kind of temporary paralysis that rendered the Kraken inert causing him to float helplessly towards the ocean surface whilst the bounds of Vesuvius were laid upon the master to which he remained loyal towards.
Today the Kraken would visit, as he peered up towards the reddish hue that coated the top of his briny stew. He felt the heavy pains of isolation melt away in zestful anticipation for his visitor.
As the dusk gave way to the thick and solemn darkness, he could sense the presence of something large approaching. It wasn’t quite intuition he thought, but rather an awareness of an abnormal shift in the current that surrounded him. He could feel more force being directed towards the left side of his torso, indicating a great mass that rapidly approached.
Moments later, he could hear or rather sense -- the war cry of the Kraken as it plowed it’s way forward. This was a defence mechanism designed to scare off unwanted company to ensure the forthcoming conversation would be a private one.
A school of fish promptly darted off into the distance as did a lone jellyfish who comically propelled itself diagonally away from the source of it’s terror.
Looking about, the emptiness cloaked itself around him with a welcome silence that lingered hesitantly. Bringing about a sanctity to the proceedings that would follow.
The current slowed, the presence neared and soon made itself known in the form of a black shadow that drifted his way. It appeared as a speck frozen in time, growing larger with each passing second until it stood before him.
The voice that emanated addressed him in a tone of reverence that never failed to swell his pride each time he heard it.
“Hail thee, sir master of the sea. As below, so shall be above. I trust you have been well as one befitting your stature is able to be.”
He had always enjoyed the poetic lyricism of the Kraken, it was such a strange contrast to the frightful appearance that often implied a simple-minded, brutish intelligence devoid of compassion.
“Hail thee, my friend. Come forth. What news have you brought me?”
The features of the Kraken came sharply into focus, the cruelty of it’s toothless maw opened up in what he had now taken to be a smile. The hard, penetrating gaze he accepted as a look of intense focus and an expression of sincerity. His heart swelled upon the recognizance of his one, true friend.
“My master. I bring you an unusual tale of fiery hail. Rocks of a wretched heat that have scattered upon the Earth spreading walls of flame that have marched upon the lands above.”
Touching the metal bracelet with the tips of his fingers, Poseidon stiffened. This was news indeed!
“Do regal me, my friend. To which purpose would one suppose such a demonstration should entail?”
Thin wispy bubbles heaved out of the Kraken’s nostrils as if in a sigh.
“Master, I do not know. The destruction of mankind or a show. The oceans remain unaffected as you have observed. Or perhaps have already heard.”
Furrowing his brow, he looked up. The Kraken’s face was bathed in the white ghostly glow of the full moon.
Poseidon glanced about warily, eyes wide open and sparkling with a great curiosity that has made the weight of his chains ever the more unbearable.
“My friend. Could this be the work of the Christian Lord? Are the days of reckoning upon us?”
The Kraken paused thoughtfully.
“Master. Perhaps that is so. I have swam as close as I could dare, to acknowledge a sight so rare. Bodies as far as the eye can see and nothing more than the burnt embers of trees.”
“Where upon have you seen such things? The East?”
“Everywhere my Master. The East, The North, The South, The West. I do not jest. Cities, dwellings, ports and all the rest.”
“It is upon us!” cracking a wry smile, he could hardly contain the jubilation that such tragedy had afforded him.
The Kraken stared at him with a forlornly.
“Master. There is something that you must know, before you celebrate such a tale of woe. A crevice had emerged, to which something has been submerged. A being you know well, sent to the great depths of hell.”
“No..” He felt the word escape his lips, swimming off into the darkness.
“I regret to inform, the crow has plucked the worm. The Christ that you await, has met an untimely fate. There could be heard a great roar, as he hath perished forever more.”
He could feel the tension in his muscles loosening. A smug expression crossed Poseidon’s face.
“Then this would mean a new God has taken up the mantle.”
“It would appear so.”
A terrible crackling shook his feet. He could feel heavy vibrations travel up his spine, rattling his head as it perched hesitantly upon his neck. Fissures opened in the ground and steam billowed forth. The heat was of a torturous sort, threatening to peel off the layers of his impenetrable skin and he could feel a boiling in his gut -- as if he was being cooked alive.
“Kraken! What is happening?” He screamed.
The Kraken remained unmoving, silently staring forward.
“My friend! Please tell me you know what this is!”
Looking down, he could see the cracks becoming larger and molten lava burbled in between his toes. While he was immortal, he certainly could -- and did -- experience pain. This was unlike anything he has ever felt.
Memories flooded his mind. His coronation. The family he once had. An Earth dwelling wife with whom he consorted and sired children by. The decimation of coastal cities that he instigated with malice towards citizens who dared not afford him the respect befitting a God of the ocean. The ships he capsized on a lark.
As the chains turned bright red, Poseidon could feel his flesh sloughing away. Blood escaped from his body to create vast plumes that hung about like an oily cloud. Obscuring his visibility which dimmed noticeably with each passing moment.
Until soon, there was darkness. And the heat was no more.
