SUN RISE#7

The training was fun. I didn't realize that I was good at basketball. I never missed a basket, thanks to my powers. I was surprised that Solomon was also good at it. We made accurate three-pointers while the other boys watched with their jaws dropped. Coach, on the other hand, was impressed with our display and was delighted to have discovered us ( even though I made him find us out with force).

After training, we went back to the locker room and showered up. I didn't feel uncomfortable bathing with humans, which was very awkward. I changed into my regular clothes and walked into the hallway with Solomon. The afternoon sun washed half of the hallway with its light and bathed our skin. Our skins would glow and shine like diamonds if we were normal vampires. That was why normal vampires wore sun bracelets or rings.

I pitied Oliver because he had no sun ring making him stuck at home. I had one more sun ring in my possession. When I met him, I would hand over the ring so he could complete his task. We should have come without our car when we reached the parking lot. 

And then, Hope approached the parking lot. She looked at us and waved at Solomon. Solomon waved back and walked towards her. She carried her eyes to mine and quickly withdrew them. I tried to reach into her mind to know what she was thinking, but I was blocked out again. I was frustrated once more. Maybe she was feeling bad for making me end our conversation earlier today.

I thought of approaching her but changed my mind immediately. I balled my hands into fists in the pockets of my hoodie and listened to their conversation. They were talking about the conversation I had with her today.

"Do you think he's mad at me?" she asked, feeling bad.

"No, I think not," Solomon assured. "Sometimes my brother could be a pain in the ass." 

And then I had to join them. I couldn't let my brother tarnish my name. But how did it bother me? It was a girl I hated deeply. Why would it move me? I pushed this out of my mind and approached them. Everybody stared at me as I walked to them. Solomon, who was talking, paused and turned. He was surprised to see me join them.

"Desmond," he said with a surprised tone.

"Yes, brother," I said with a smile. " I thought maybe I could join both of you."

I turned and looked at Hope. As our eyes met, I heard her gasp softly. Her heart pumped faster, and I could hear the adrenaline flush into her bloodstream. Yes, I knew I always mesmerized her.

"Sure," Solomon filled in the space created during a few seconds of silence in which Hope and I stared at each other.

"So what are we talking about?" I asked after tearing my eyes from Hope. I looked at Solomon and smiled.

"I was about to ask Hope if she could give us a ride home," he confessed ( lied, to be honest).

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at him. Was he crazy? He was showing a human our home, which was extremely dangerous. I gave him the "Do you know what you are doing?" look. Reading my mind, he turned and smiled at me.

"Err, I don't know," Hope stuttered.

"Oh, do not worry," I tried convincing her to say no. "We will find a way home."

"I think Hope could help us," he said gently.

"Yeah, I think so," she offered.

"No, Solomon and I have another way home. It is much faster and more efficient", I assured. "Is that not right, brother?".

He looked at me for some seconds. I smiled at him, and he rolled his eyes.

"You are right, Desmond," he said with a hint of sarcasm.

"You see, no need to worry," I said to Hope.

"Okay then, see you guys around," she said and got into her blue Ford truck. She ignited it, and the engine roared to life. She waved at us through the window, and we waved back. I, with a fake smile on my face. She drove out of the parking lot and went home.

"What the hell were you doing, Solomon?" I asked, turning to him.

"Trying to act humane, unlike somebody who does not feel anything apart from rage," he pointed out.

"You are not human, so stop acting like one," I emphasized. "You almost took her to the Mansion. Which is very risky and dangerous".

"Whatever," he said ignorantly.

This behavior from Solomon was surprising. I was usually the carefree one. What had gotten into him? By the time we had finished arguing, the parking lot was empty.

"See you at home," I said and zoomed off.

I began looking for the sun ring when I got home. I had to find it before Solomon got back. I searched the library and the storage room but found nothing. Alfred asked me what I was looking for, but I am still waiting for a reply. If I did, he would probably tell Solomon. I guessed he was tasked to obey Solomon. 

After thirty minutes of searching in vain, I gave up and went to the wine cellar to get myself a drink. I took out a bottle of "The Englishman," which was probably my best alcoholic drink, and poured me some in the living room. I leaned on the table and sipped from the glass while staring into space.

Zechariah had not come to my doorstep to complain about any changes in his pack or the death of Zack, meaning Oliver hadn't carried out his instructions yet. I didn't see Zack in school today, which told me he was supposed to die, but I'm sure he wasn't. I had to get that ring to Oliver, or my plan would crumble.

And then it struck me. It came to me in a flash. I had kept the sun ring in a little box and hid it in the wine cellar to prevent Alfred or Solomon from ever finding it. Unsure, I dropped the glass, and in a split second, I was in the wine cellar once more. I walked to the last shelf and squatted. I stretched my right hand under the frame and reached for the box, but my fingers touched nothing. I searched for it until my hand touched something. I grabbed the object and brought it out. Behold, it was the box.