The Dragon and the Lamb

He stood alone atop the barren hill.  Behind him the sky bore the crimson stains of the dying day.  Before him lay the broken bodies of those he had vanquished - a sea of corpses too numerous to be counted.  He had started the day a mere man.  He would end it as a god.

***

“I had the dream again, Cassandra.”

“We’ve been through this before, Lucien.  It’s obviously an echo of your past life as the mighty conqueror Alexander the Great.”

Cassandra was a self-proclaimed expert on reincarnation.  Possessing a Ph.D. in psychology, she had abandoned her practice 10 years earlier when her studies in New Age philosophy led her to a spiritual awakening.  She had been born Susan Chapman, but after lengthy sessions of meditation and numerous consultations with spiritual advisors she discovered that Susan Chapman was actually the latest incarnation of the prophetess Cassandra, daughter of King Priam of Troy.  She embraced her true identity, and in doing so, unleashed remarkable talents that had long lied dormant within her.  Her name grew in prominence in New Age circles, and soon many among the rich and famous began coming to her for spiritual advice.  The wealthy French banker Lucien Malos was one such client.  Lucien was a handsome man in his late thirties.  He had taken the helm of his family's business at the age of thirty and proved to be a very astute player in the world of finance.  His intelligence and instincts surpassed that of even his most seasoned rivals.  His tremendous success in the private sector earned him the position of Finance Minister of the European Union.

“The dream felt different this time,” Lucien said thoughtfully as he lied on the plush sofa in Cassandra’s suite.  “It felt more like a premonition than a recollection.”

Cassandra’s sapphire eyes flashed with interest.  “So you think the dream indicates that you will one day rule the world?” she asked.

“It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it,” Lucien admitted.

“No, not necessarily,” Cassandra said.  “Many of us repeat certain events from life to life.  We meet the same people, have similar professions, and often meet similar deaths.  You were a conqueror in a past life, so it is not unreasonable to think that your life will follow a similar course in your current incarnation.  But if you want to explore this further, I can attempt to do a reading for you.”

“Yes, I think that would be most helpful,” Lucien said.

Cassandra held Lucien’s hand and closed her eyes.  Several moments passed before she finally spoke.

“I see a great war in the desert,” Cassandra began.  “Your deeds will bring you great honor, but your power will increase through peace.  All the world shall know your name.”

She paused for a moment before continuing.  “I sense a change in you that will increase your power still further.  You will lead a great army and conquer many nations.  Great calamities will befall the world, but you will survive.  Enormous crowds will gather to hear you speak and they will be awed by your words.  You will be their hero...”

She paused again, struggling to decipher the meaning of her vision.  “No that’s not quite right,” she said slowly, searching for the right interpretation.  She let out a gasp as the meaning became clear to her.  Then in a breathless, almost frightened voice she said, “You will be their god.”