The Reaper: No Mercy (40 page)

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Rho turned away from the servant he had recently bestowed his blessing upon and rose from the bed. His godlike lust satisfied for the moment, he toweled himself off then donned his robes and walked sedately from the bedroom. That the slave he had just left was very young, had no meaning; for these were biblical times, with biblical rules. The host left on earth had only two purposes: To follow the rule of the one and only God, or to suffer under the heel of his chosen. Rho could only care about the chosen, for he had been anointed by God to collect the hosts from the four corners of the earth from amongst the warring survivors of the apocalypse as spelled out by Revelations and earlier. Like locusts, they would lay waste to the ungodly, bringing a final peace unto the world.

Rho, had not been born Rho. He had been the unwelcome offspring of billionaire parents who had conceived him during a moment of weakness in between their busy schedule of business and social commitments. He had rarely seen his parents as he grew up, and like most in his situation rebelled with frequency in a variety of creative ways. Vandalism was the first, to be closely followed by alcoholism as a mid teen. Drugs followed a short time later, and there was not a drug, he had not tried many times. Every car his parents gave him, he crashed, always high on something, or drunk. His young socialite girlfriends were legion and since he never wore protection, many had become pregnant, only to be bought out by his father, who would simply shake his head before heading out to his next appointment. So, he did his own thing and rebelled, until...

He found religion, or rather a variety of religions. Some of those religions were good, though some were bad. They all loved him, for he brought a great deal of money into their coffers as he experimented with each. Experimenting with Satanism, Druidism, Wiccan, Christianity, along with many others, they all blurred together, until he had the vision. One night during an intense party with the latest religious group he had attached himself too, he'd had a vision. The party had been going nonstop for two days and they had liberally used everything from Marijuana, to LSD, to Meth, to Ecstasy which culminated in a massive group orgy. The tab was on him, and everyone loved him. But, he experienced the vision!

Even high, they had been reading from the Old Testament, specifically Ezekiel, before moving to Revelations, doing all of this while under the influence of drugs he couldn't even name when he had fallen to the floor in convulsions. Those closest to him, dragged him outside and called 911 for they did not want their rich benefactor to die. He had felt himself being lifted, then the mild discomfort of his bare heels dragging over rough asphalt but it didn't matter as the vision was unfolding behind his eyes.

It was at that moment everything fell into place. He realized he was truly a descendent of Magog, from the line of princes and kings and 'The God' was telling him that the land of Magog needed to be reborn and that his true name was Rho. Rho he became and after his parents died, he'd invested in a one square mile of land in Missouri. Then he collected followers.

Being very selective, he'd started with those he knew and then branched outward. Seminaries were held, all expenses paid and he'd gathered more. Now the land of Magog was state of the art, with all the amenities, including weapons.

"Are the men vigilant, my servant?" Rho was addressing brother Jaaziah, who was waiting just outside the door. Jaaziah was his right hand man, the Captain of Rho's host. They had known each other for years, having met shortly after he realized through a vision that he was Rho, a direct descendent of the kings of Magog. It was also Jaaziah who had secured the heavy machine guns through a corrupt supply sergeant in the Army, from a base on the west coast. His Captain had also secured a great many of their other weapons and supplies from that same sergeant. The land of Magog was secured and about to gather their hosts and move outward.

"Yes. We are continuing our parimeter sweeps and all are dedicated to the cause." The cold stare of death greeted him as Jaaziah responded.

"Any word on the footprints you found?" he asked.

"No. We lost them. It was only one person though."

"Does an example need to be made?" Rho frowned as he gazed with equally deadly eyes at his disciple.

"No, Prince. It's under control and an example will be made, but of whoever was spying on us. I've sent one of our best to show the ungodly their sinful ways. Those within the city will join us shortly, or they will perish. You have my word!"

"Good, because I would hate to crucify a useful servant," responded Rho. He paused as a faint mewling could be heard behind the closed doors at his back. Jerking his head towards the direction of the sounds a very young child in agony would make, he continued. "Dispose of that. I may have damaged it, irreparably.

"It is only a slave, Prince."

"Agreed, and the godless shall be buried beneath the earth" said Rho as he walked off and Jaaziah entered the Princes quarters, to coldly stare at the infidel that lay upon a blood soaked bed, while rolling in agony.