The Deep

This is the 10th installment to a series of entries that reimagines characters in Greek mythology. It follows directly from The Cell.

The Clock Stops
4 min readOct 10, 2023

Today shall be a calm day.

Poseidon stared at himself in the mirror and plucked one of the shells from his beard. He had grown lazy recently, and he tired from the incessant grooming from his wife, Amphitrite. In a way, his laziness was a way of silent rebellion towards her and her overt fawning. It made him appear weak, and he hated to appear weak in front of his subjects.

He flecked the shell casually towards the ocean floor and watched as it slowly settled in the sediment. Silently, a small, brownish cloud rose where it landed. He liked to watch the earthen cloud settle on the ocean floor. It was a way to pass the time. It wasn’t exactly a hobby, but watching the process of the cloud settling also slowed down his own heartbeat.

Everything settles to the ocean floor in the end.

This had been his mantra for as long as he could remember.

Sometimes when he was in his observation tower he would find his mind wandering to the far off depths and trenches of his kingdom. He was bound to this underwater world, and at times the pressure and weight of his power could overwhelm even a god. At those moments he would deliberately watch objects from above the waves trickle down to settle on the ocean floor —the rhythm maintained an even cadence within and without.

Everything settles to the ocean floor in the end.

He repeated the mantra to himself as he stared at his reflection. Imprints from the evening storm he had conjured the night before were still in his head. He had awoken to the falling remnants of the fishing ship outside of the cave where he observed the aftermath from the depths. They glided ever so slowly towards the deep. The faces of the sailors were unrecognizable, many of them covered with kelp as they were weighed down by debris, the coins and possessions in their pockets speeding up their descent. The squall had been sent as a warning to the mortals on the surface for overstepping their boundaries in regards to his underwater world. Too many whales sacrificed recently, all for the sake of candles to light the surface world at night. It seemed unnecessary to those who spent their life under the waves. A sacrifice had to be made, and the fishing boat seemed a small one. The sailors would be missed and mourned, but his kingdom and will would be respected. Poseidon considered himself just, clear, and firm. He took no pleasure in extinguishing mortal lives, but he had to show his kingdom that balance would be maintained.

Today shall be a calm day.

From behind his head, he noticed Delphin silently glide into the room and bow behind him. The dolphin lieutenant was his utmost trusted advisor. Poseidon could share any order or secret with Delphin. He knew more about Poseidon’s insecurities and his struggle to keep on an even and balanced cadence than his wife, Amphitrite. Poseidon didn’t consider it proper to fully disclose his feelings to her— he was king of the seas. His territory was vast and almost limitless — and yet, the depths of his heart held emotions buried more secretly than treasures under the sediment.

Delphin remained in a bowed position, his bottleneck beak touching the ocean floor. He paused and contemplated his next words. The day had started so calmly. He had been beside his lord the evening before during the conjuring of the storm. He had even scouted the waves and given the signal to Poseidon to help inform him of the oncoming ship of fishermen. Delphin was loyal to his god to a fault, and yet he still felt sorrow for these times when mortal lives had to be sacrificed in order to bring about what Poseidon called “the balance.” Now he looked upon Poseidon who was staring off into the settled ocean floor, a calm gaze on his face. It was so different from the night before. Delphin always felt fear at those moments.

“Speak,” Poseidon uttered one word. “Something vexes you.” He held out his palm for Delphin to touch his beak to it as a sign of affirmation.

“My lord, there are visitors from above.” Delphin spoke the words without hesitation.

“Mortals back so soon?” Poseidon’s brows furrowed.

“Not mortals, my lord.”

The furrowed brows changed direction and raised on his face. Delphin thought he caught the hint of a smile underneath Poseidon’s immense beard.

“It is my brother, isn’t it?”

The time for calm had ended.

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The Clock Stops

American residing in Asia since 2004. Blogs focusing on life observations, improv, food, creating a learning organisation, management, and stretching time.