The demon within.

Aron West.

Aron West was lost in his thoughts when his secretary walked into the room and notified him that this mother had tried calling him a few times. He was so engaged in the Finn laboratory case and forgot that his father was admitted to the hospital in a very critical condition. He grabbed his cell phone and walked to the balcony of his office to call his mother. For a moment there he felt scared and wondered if his father had died. He said a quick prayer to the gods asking them to keep his father alive for a few more years. He regretted why he had not married sooner as his father had always advised him.

"Hello ? " His mother's voice woke him from his thoughts.

"Good after noon, mother?" he said as he cleared his throat.

"It's your father, he is critical. The doctor said he may not wake up to see another day. You should come. He has something very important to tell you. Please, son, come and say goodbye. Even just for my sake," she said as she broke down into tears. Aron West had not seen his father for the last five years, since they had disagreed on a few issues, including forced marriage to a girl he had never met. He felt that his father was being a dictator.

Suddenly he felt guilty of his behavior. He walked into his office and grabbed his car keys from the table and walked out hastily. He wanted to run. He passed by his secretary and asked her to cancel all his meetings for the day. He arrived at St.Luke's hospital and a nurse directed him to his father's room. He found his mother and his two sisters seated by his father's side saying a prayer to virgin Mary. They were all pleased to see him. His father almost smiled as he struggled to sit upright. He helped him sit upright and made sure he was comfortable. For a moment there, he felt awkward and didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry papa, I should have come sooner. Please forgive me." Aron West said as he kissed his father's hand gently.

"I have something to tell you, my son, about your roots," Patrick West said in a hoarse voice. His sister gave the father a sip of water to soften his throat.

"We originated from Africa, we are descendants of the Dinka tribe of South Sudan. We are locally known as the giants. Where do you think you got those long legs of yours? Patrick West teased him. "We are from the clan of Rut Dinka who were assigned the duty to tend to the pyramid of Luak Deng. It was the mecca of the whole Dinka and Nuer people. It was a role carried by our ancestors with lots of pride and dignity. We believed that we were closer to the gods than the other clans. One day, everything changed when there was a prophecy that a son born from the clan of Rut Dinka would marry a dark witch and befriend a son born of wolf blood, and this union could bring about the end of the dynasties." Patrict West tried to catch his breath as he looked around at his family.

"Relax papa, you will tell us more about our origin later when you are not soo tired. Rest now please." Aron West pleaded with his father.

"No, I have to tell you now," Patrick West said adamantly.

" After the prophecy, other clans sought to kill all the descendants of the Rut Dinka clan. Our ancestors had to run into hiding when they encountered some traders who brought them here as laborers. Aron, when you were born, your godmother had a vision about you being that son that would avenge us and destroy the dynasties with the help of a witch and a son born of wolf blood. It's my final wish that you travel back to our ancestral home and learn about our culture and avenge us."

"Bow your head and let me bless you my son." Patrick West said as he reached for his son's head. He said a preter and a little gibberish words and spat on his son's chest. He sank into his hospital bed and told them that he needed to take a nap. He shut his eyes, took his last breath, smiled and died.

Aron West was lost in his thoughts when the nurse in charge walked up to him and asked if he was okay. That was when he realized his sisters, wailing and hugging their dead father's body. His mother had fainted and was being rushed out of the room on a stretcher. He knew he had to be strong for his family at that moment. He took his sisters outside and tried to calm them down. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't let his younger siblings see him cry. He called a few relatives who came to console them and prepare for his father's funeral.

After a week of mourning, the elders gather at Patrick's home and ask Aron West to join them.

"We believe your father, Mr. Patrick may Nhialic receive him in the hall of the saints." my uncle Peter said, sorrowful as the other elders shouted 'receive him dear Nhialic.' Uncle Peter was the senior elder.

"Our ancestral land has been calling to us. The dynasties destroyed the temples of Nhialic and the gods are angry. It's time to send our sons and daughters back to motherland to fulfill the prophecy and cleanse the land of all impunity. My son Aron, we beg you to travel back to your motherland and fulfill the prophecy. We know that what we are asking of you is too much, but please hear our cry, hear the cry of your motherland."

"I can't just drop everything and go to some place I have never heard of before. I had never heard of this prophecy until recently. I am not walking into something blindly. My dear elders, please find someone else to fulfill your prophecy. I am working on the biggest case of my career. I can't just leave everything behind." Aron West said as he rose and left the room. One elder wanted to run after him but was stopped by Peter when he said, "give the kid some time, he will receive the call from our gods.