Chapter 19

Salban sat on his throne high on a golden dais. He was a being of darkness and terror striking fear into the hearts and souls of all who stood before him. His conquest of the world was almost complete, only a few isolated pockets of resistance remained to challenge his control. Bobby had functioned as an easily manipulated puppet and followed directions with meticulous detail. The founding high Priest and first Emperor was entombed in an elaborately decorated mausoleum at Circle Rock where he received the first vision from the blue god. More people died at his direction than under any government in recorded history, mostly from the use of nuclear weapons against belligerent nations.

Salban mused to himself about sequence of events that led to world conquest. The first temple of Salbanism was built close to the birthplace of the cult. Converts were few and far between until Salban suggested they add sexual rites secretly to the tenants of the cult. When blood sacrifices were included the number of converts began to increase exponentially. New temples were constructed in several large American cities with food and shelter for those in need and the homeless masses were enticed into the open arms of the church. Ten years later they were firmly entrenched in every major city of the world with a membership in the hundreds of millions. Local laws were changed and prostitution and animal sacrifices became religious rites. Bobby from his position of power called for a jihad against all other forms of religion and an army of zealots rallied around the black and gold flag of Salbanism. The religious institutions in America fell like dominoes and the government was helpless to stop the frenzied rampage of the jihad's warriors.

Having secured victory in the religious arena, Salbanism turned its zealous masses against the American government itself. The organization of Salbanism was appealing to people at all levels of society. It a secret meeting after the election of representatives from the political wing of the jihad that gave control of congress to the church, the mysterious murder of the entire Supreme Court, and the defection of major portions of the leadership of the military. The President resigned allowing the Vice President, a recent convert to Salbanism to assume power. The greatest democracy the world had ever known fell to the religious masses. The Constitution became irrelevant and an infant empire born.

It was at this time that Salban decided to reveal himself to the world. He stood, a black shadow cloaked in fire with his High Priest. A sight to strike fear into the hearts of men and shatter any desire they may have to stand against him.

"Citizens of the world, a new world order will soon circumvent the globe." Salban's voice sounded like thunder to some and music to others. "I am the god you serve and worship. I am the power that receives the blood of your sacrifices. I am the one who will bring you to your rightful place in the universe. Will you follow me?"

"We will follow you to the ends of the universe." The crowd shouted in unison. "We are your servants and you are our master."

The dark lord looked into the crowd with eyes of fire and the ground shook as he spoke in a voice of dread power. "Your word is your bond. Do not fail me and I will reward you with great riches." To the amazement of the spectators Salban raised his arms and lightning streaked to the clouds overhead. A shower of golden flakes shaped like small flower petals fluttered down until the ground all around was covered. The crowd scrambled to collect the gift from Salban.

"It's real gold." Someone shouted, causing chaos as they fought for the golden flakes.

"All hail Salban! All hail Salban!" the chant started slow and grew in strength as more of the audience joined the melee. "Salban is mighty! Salban is powerful!" The possessed supplicants began marching in a large circle. Four priests from the local temple brought an altar and placed it in the center of the undulating ring, then stood at each corner waiting while the crowd cheered. A young girl was led to the altar. She was wearing a robe of royal blue trimmed in red with a yellow belt. The Most High Priest stepped down from beside Salban's throne and into the circle of followers and stood beside the altar and faced the Dark Lord Salban.

"Salban has smiled upon us with gifts of gold." Bobby paused for effect. He was about to produce the first virgin life-giver sacrifice to Salban in several thousand years. "We offer him a gift of equal value, a gift of purity, a gift of life, and a gift of virgin human blood." The crowd roared their approval.

The maiden was quiet, seemingly resolved to her fate. Bobby took her by the hand and led her to the altar's side. He untied the belt and pushed the robe from her shoulders and it fell in a silken pile around her feet. The girl's blonde hair glistened in the warm sun; her youthful body was perfect in shape and texture. She showed no shame, as she stood nude before the quietly waiting multitude. The four priests lifted her onto the altar and secured her arms at her side and legs to the corners. Her firm young breasts pointed skyward as she lay on her back. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes but she remained quiet.

The Most High Priest took a vial from his robe and held the tube of blue liquid over her and recited an incantation. With his other hand, he opened her mouth and poured the oils onto her tongue. The effect was immediate. She stiffened and grew flushed in color with her eyes wide open. Next he produced a vial of red oil smaller than the first and poured it on her pubic mound and it ran between her spread legs covering her sex with the scarlet liquid. Bobby placed a knife with a long V-shaped blade sharpened to a razor's edge made from a yellow crystal over the girl's neck and locked it in place on both sides. With his left hand he gently touched the lips of her vagina made extremely sensitive by the chemicals in the anointing. A moan of drug-induced pleasure escaped her lips and her lovely body quivered as her orgasm built. Her climax caused her body to arch and her head was raised from altar. The knife sliced deep into her neck and her life's blood poured out onto the table and over the side where Bobby collected it in a sacred bowl. The body jerked spasmodically and then became still. The unseeing eyes were open and staring.

The crowd remained in quiet expectation as the Most High Priest carried the bowl and set it at the feet of the Dark Lord Salban.

"Your gift is pleasing to me." He raised his arms and he took the shape of pillar of fire. He moved over the bowl and consumed the blood then shot into the sky with a clap of thunder. The ground rolled and shook as a voice roared, "Now conquer the world my power is sufficient to sustain you."

Bobby cleaned the knife and looked at his hands. This was the first time he had killed with his own hands. Ordering someone killed is different from actually doing it. He felt dirty and evil. The girl was so young and beautiful completely undeserving of death. Salban promised a better world and war brought casualties this was understandable. The virgin sacrifices were a useless waste of life, but he knew he was too deeply involved to change.

Pain was not a part of the sacrifices. The drugs in the potion poured into the mouths of the victims numbed the neck tissue and they died experiencing the peak moment of their orgasm. It wasn't a bad way to die, but to depart this life before the age of twenty was a waste. The seed of good still alive in Bobby was speaking to him. But he pushed it to the back of his mind, it was too late to alter course. He didn't want to anger his master the Dark Lord Salban.

When Bobby stepped into his bedroom Rachel was waiting for him. She was less than half his age with long blonde hair well toned muscles. She was standing in front of the full-length mirror admiring her body. He watched as she cupped her breasts and posed seductively.