The Worth of a Coin (BxB)

Chapter 11

-Ruarc Brennan-

Harlen led Quan and I through the crowd of supernaturals. The sight which I was met with was one of horror unlike anything I had ever seen. Simon lay in the middle of the road; it seemed that he had been ran over by a car with spikes on the wheels. That wasn't what killed him though, at least, it didn't look like it. His expression didn't hold a single trace of pain or worry, it looked as though he was peacefully sleeping.

I dropped to my knees, as though a closer look would tell me it wasn't really him. It wasn't the kindest boy that I had ever dated.

"How can someone do this?" I asked, more to myself than anything else. I could barely register the words as they left my mouth. "He was so sweet."

"You know him well?" Quan asked softly.

I shook my head but remembered that Quan wouldn't be able to tell. "No, not really. We went out a few times. We kept in touch for a little while after we decided it wouldn't work, but we haven't spoken in ages."

I couldn't take my eyes off the scene of his body, even when Quan's gloved hand rested on my shoulder.

"Do you want me to look for myself?" he asked in the same soft tone that he had earlier.

I didn't know how to respond. I didn't want him to use his powers and make himself ill, but I also couldn't bear to let any adjectives leave my mouth.

"Do you want an image description?" Harlen asked darkly. I resisted the urge to hit him in the shin. He had his reasons not to like the police, but this isn't the place for it.

"That would be most kind," Quan said sarcastically. I had to resist the urge to hit him, even though that would probably break a bone of his and get me fired. I had the feeling that these two were going to make this even more difficult for me than it already was. I shouldn't let my emotions get in the way, but I'd be the first to admit that I was a rather emotional man.

"Too bad," Harlen replied snarkily.

I sighed and stood up, pushing the two further away from each other. "Stop." I could barely recognise my own voice. "This isn't the time or place for that." I turned to Quan. "Do you want to see the body?"

"What do you mean 'see the body'?" Harlen asked loudly. "It's right there." I assumed that he was pointing towards Simon, but I had my back to them.

Quan hesitated. "I probably just need to see the body."

I nodded. "Okay, take your gloves off," I instructed. After he did so, I grasped his sleeve-covered wrist and helped him find Simon, careful to avoid any of the blood. We were both on our knees, huddled together.

Quan's eyes moved every now and again, twitching, as though he was going from one focus to another. He winced and pulled his hand back sharply. "Damn," he muttered.

"What did he just do?" Harlen asked roughly. "Get him away from here. He's a witch."

I rose to my feet again, and glared at him. We were getting many strange and worried glances by the crowd, but I didn't care. "Harlen, you of all people, cannot be offended by a witch's presence." I glanced around, there was one other witch here as well, one who I knew Harlen was close friends with.

He looked away from me. "But Ruarc, you know we can't trust them," he whispered. "They'll just get us locked up. Or executed." He was referring to the police.

I shook my head. "Not him." I looked back at Quan, who had returned his hand to Simon's cheek. "He's a massive prick, but he's harmless."

"I can hear you," Quan stated. "And I suppose I should take offence that you called me harmless."