IT ALL STARTED WITH A BOY

Bleeding White Roses

       He stared at the old dying man on the king sized bed. The IV tubes that stuck out of his mouth and nose made him look like some kind of strange succubus. His skin that once used to be dark and glowing was now one step away from being completely pale.
Whatever herbs Salewa mixed to make this poison, it's a brilliant work of nature. Poisoning the old fool and making everyone else think that she was giving him harmless doses of 'agbo'.
Someone knocked on the door and he raised his head.
"Come in."
The door opened and a scrawny looking maid holding a tray of sliced watermelons walked in. She was Islamic and her hijab covered most parts of her face. A part of his heart warmed up a little. Despite being strictly catholic, his father was undiscriminating to other religions. The maid walked over to the other side of the bed and put the tray on top of the small wooden bedside table. She bowed to him and walked out of the room. He turned back to his dying father, all forms of warmth and admiration freezing over.
"If only you hadn't denied us the first time Papa." he said with contempt. He stared at the heart monitor that blinked repeatedly. Ensuring them that his heart was still functioning.
"If you had just accepted us as your own. If you hadn't thrown us away. Abandoned us like we meant nothing to you. None of this would have happened." He let out a sad sigh but his eyes told a story of hatred and malice.
"She stood by you for years. From the first whore and her spawn, to the one who dares to steal our fortune. The same son of a bitch who dares to try and take everything you and my mother worked for. Where was he and his wretched mother when you and my mother were building an empire? Not just a business empire, but an empire with strong walls. The largest gang in the country. But now," he spat, "He has rights to take over everything. He and his bastard sisters. All because you made the mistake of willing it to them! You willed everyone of my mother's efforts to a bunch of bastards!"
He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to smother the old man with the wine coloured pillow under his head.
"And what do we get? Nothing. Not even a single room apartment in the slums of Ajegunle. You left the real owners with nothing. Stripped us bare and left us in the cold to fend for ourselves." he slammed his fists on the soft bed, nearly missing the old man's leg. The old man simply stared into space. His heart heavy as he listened to the youth's words.
'If only you knew the truth. If only you would accept the truth of your paternity. But alas, you choose to believe lies in order to feed your bloodlust. But..but Bejide would stop you. He will make you see reason. If only I had known sooner. And Salewa, my dear Salewa! After finally giving my heart to one woman for the rest of my old short life, my worst fear showed it's ugly face and made me suffer terribly. I married Karma in the flesh. A true Delilah. Who sold her love and loyalty for a few pieces of gold. God, is this punishment for my past sins? For the thousands of women I have hurt? The millions of lives I have taken? Please, forgive this old soul. I thought I was doing it for You. For the church. Please, help Bejide lead like Your son. Not to make the same mistakes as I did. Protect him from the monster seated beside me.'
He sneered at the old man as his empty eyes stared at the ceiling.
"But I've promised Mama that I would correct your silly mistake. I would get everything back. And I am. I first had to get rid of the whores that bore you those bastards. You chose well Papa. They all refused to go down without a fight."
The old man's eyes widened.
'No! Labake! Freda! Toyosi! Simi! What has he done?'
"Now I just need to purge the empire of the scum you hired. Those who will not be loyal to me, well, they'll just have to go. Won't they Papa?"
The old man stared at the youth in terror. Never had he met a more blood thirsty soul as this. He tried to speak, but no words came. The youth laughed wickedly.
"Are you trying to beg for mercy Papa? Don't bother. You've always said that a great leader never shows his opponents mercy. I'm just following in your example."
He stared at the wall behind the bed. The wine coloured wallpaper with intricate royal gold designs spiraling around the symbol of the WilliamStone company. The same symbol that represented the members of the Williams family. The most influential family in Lagos state. An arrow with a red rose as its tail.
The same symbol of the most notorious gang in Nigeria; The Blood Arrows.