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Chapter 46: 46—Demon hunt [6] They got to the station not long after. Noah drove a bit faster than usual in order to get there on time. Madeleine climbed out of the car gingerly, eyes widened with shock. "You didn’t have to do all that. The police station is open all day." "I have to pick up my little sister by like 7 pm," Noah explained, locking the car and eyeing the bustling station. "So how are we doing this? Can I just possess someone and go in there? Does the union have any protections against supernatural beings in there?" Madeleine nodded gravely. "They’ll have a Keeper with powerful senses in there. Then there’ll be a barrier around the building." That was not too extensive, but it was rather awkward for him. Barriers meant he couldn’t just phase through the walls. Keepers with powerful senses meant he couldn’t use his abilities without raising an alarm. But there were ways to get around it. "What if I possess you?" Noah asked nervously. Madeleine looked a bit disgusted by the idea, maybe it was something insulting to Keepers. She shook her head. "I don’t want to experience losing control of myself again. And besides, my instincts will always resist possession." "I can do it without taking control though," Noah offered, leaning against the car. "I leave my body in the car then enter yours, but I’ll just hitch a ride into the station towards the records room. Then I leave your body while you use some dark arts. That should be enough to mask me using my powers while I possess someone else." Simply as it may have sounded, Madeleine looked a bit green. Maybe I should just drop this idea and have her get the case files. She paced around the car for a moment before grunting. "Fine, fine," she said, throwing up her hands. "Just enter inside me." Noah grimaced, opening the car door. "Don’t make it weird." He didn’t take too long to leave his body this time, since they didn’t have time to waste. He smoothly walked out of his body and the car. His flaming head flickered against the bright light of the sun before he entered Madeleine’s body. Immediately he felt a heavy repelling force, similar to what it felt like when he became tangible underground. Madeleine squeezed her face and stumbled a little. When she opened her eyes, Noah saw them flash green in the car window. Then he resisted the desire to control the body and enter her memories. "Ok, I’m in," he said mentally. Madeleine shook her head and made an uncomfortable sound. "Oh... this feels so wrong. Don’t speak in my mind, your voice is horrifying." "Roger that, Madeleine." She pointed her fist at herself in a strange attempt at intimidation, then she began walking to the precinct door. "Stop that, and call me Mads." Noah resisted the urge to roll her eyes. His main objective right now was to avoid even accidentally controlling her. But her memories still tugged at his incorporeal form. Like waves washing against a beach, they pressed against him occasionally. It was small things. Like Madeleine thinking about what she had for lunch to big things like her memories of learning how to resist possession. They haunted him, forced him to shrink into the darker edges of Madeleine’s spirit for safety. They came randomly. He saw flashes of Madeleine trapped somewhere dark, chased by phantoms shifting through the darkness, while she screamed for her mother. Her fear leeched into him like dye, making him feel like he was in the cold, damp dungeon with her. Other than the fear, he had to grapple with the embarrassment of seeing her memories. It felt like an unholy invasion of privacy. Noah? Are you okay? Noah flinched internally at the random thought in his head. Then he reminded himself he was in Madeleine’s head and sighed. "Yeah, just... I’m okay." I felt you shaking inside me. Can you not do that? "If you stop saying it like that," he muttered back. They were inside the precinct. There were cops rushing by, sitting at desks and talking in the break room. But they all parted ways for a man unconsciously. It was like their minds pushed them to walk around this person. His hair was a graying black; paired with his dark eyes and his pinstriped suit he looked rather dignified. He walked with a cane whose click was clear to Madeleine even through the bustling noises of the precinct. Shit, I know him. Noah soothed her apprehension by projecting his own confidence. So Madeleine walked with a smile on her face to the man. Thank you. "Mr. Hank, I didn’t know you’d be the one here," Madeleine said in her usual cheery voice. The older Keeper shook her hand with a small smile. "Just call me Hank. Were you the one that used some power in the parking lot?" "Yes, I was disabling my invisibility to not appear rude," she lied smoothly. "I was advised by my mentor, Mr. Quentin, to visit a police station one day and try to observe how they operate." This seemed very convincing to Hank, who smiled wistfully. "When I was a trainee this would be unthinkable. But New Albion is one of the busiest states in the nation. Phantasms form daily and we’re always on damage control." He put a hand on Madeleine’s shoulder far too easily. "Come, let us explore a little." "Hands off, weirdo," Noah muttered internally. Madeleine’s face twitched but her smile stayed in place. Relax, he’s just being nice. They didn’t make it far inside before an officer stopped Madeleine. "Afternoon, ma’am, may I ask your business here?" Hank frowned and raised a hand. "My glamour doesn’t extend to you, give me a moment." But Madeleine was ahead of him, bringing Hank’s hand down. "Let me." "Smart, I’ll leave your body once you cast the spell," Noah affirmed. Madeleine took out her blackpoint pen and began drawing the red symbol in the air. The officer watched in confusion; not pulling his gun because it was a pretty girl. At least in Noah’s opinion. She wasted no time on the last symbol, completing it when Noah jumped out of her body and into a passing officer. The officer was a black woman, who stopped and blinked twice, eyes flashing green, before continuing. Hank was none the wiser, and once Madeleine’s spell took effect, they continued their tour through the station. Noah walked to the records room, smiling and nodding at anyone he passed. Once the doors shut, he searched for Tammy’s case file, hoping they hadn’t moved it to archives. It wasn’t long till he found it. As he read, a slow and unbelieving dread washed over him. There’s no way this is right?