A/N – I'm back, and Chapter 5 is now up! Please take the time to read and review. Incidentally I wrote the first part of this chapter listening to 'Dark Intentions' a short but very atmospheric song by The Haunted. It might be best to read it a few times, as I think I made the spirit realm bit quite hard to understand.

Dark Intentions

Uru'baen:

Zarin climbed the spiral stone stairs of Galbatorix's pentacle tower as calmly as he possibly could, though apprehension and nervousness flowed through him furiously. The dank circular walls seemed to slope inwards the higher he got, like some feral beast closing in on him. Forcing himself to clear his mind he felt deep within himself, accessing the reserves of magic he had prepared for this event. If all went to plan that magic would mean nothing, dwarfed by far superior powers and neither would his body, his conscience or his soul. He was selling his soul to the devil… Almost literally.

His veiny pale knuckles rapped at a cold steel door in an intricate rhythmic pattern ten times, and the door slowly grated open, leaking a thick dark mist onto the stairway. Something inside the room seemed to reach out to him, willing him to relax his mind and submit himself to the darkness, Zarin hesitated; he was doing the right thing, that much he knew. Galbatorix was a cursed old fool however he was the key to peace in this broken world and by undergoing a transformation he could help and even fight alongside his king when the time for war came. Yes… He was doing this for the good of the kingdom, at the cost of his own good. Taking a deep breath Zarin entered the Chamber of Lost Souls.

"Ah Zarin!" The king's voice shocked him out of his reverie of final thoughts.

"I see you have chosen to accept my gracious offer?" Zarin didn't miss the underlying menace behind the king's words; the slightest slip could cost him his life.

"I have oh benevolent one, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be able to serve my king and home to the fullest of my abilities."

"And those abilities will soon be very full indeed!" The king remarked idly.

Zarin laughed politely and as the king prompted him advanced to the centre of the room where he stood above a huge pentacle drawn into the ground.

"Durziac you will seek, none other… is that clear?"

"Aye my liege" And with that he finally relaxed his mind, allowing himself to be drawn into the spirit realm.

Strange hues of yellow and orange swirled around him, as he floated freely through a cosmos of energy. Tranquillity took him into a soft embrace and seemed to caress him in a soft white light, but he hardened his mind reluctantly, feeling the familiar solid walls of his mind surround him, protecting him from the alien evil he was entering. Pride rose in his chest, tens of the kings best servants had attempted this feat, and none had succeeded yet here he was, strolling through the legendary Vault of Souls unopposed and as of yet, untried.

"Durziac" He loosed a tendril of thought into the surrounding atmosphere, willing it to seek out his prey. However the moment he relaxed his defence's needles rammed his mind brutally, causing random emotions to rise in him forcefully.

Hate – Seared through him like the branding iron his father had struck him with on his fourth birthday.

Passion – Burst in him beautifully as he dove into his young love Lucille for the first time… Then

Sadness – As he wept at her death bed, slain in one of the Vardens earlier raids on the Empire.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" The final walls broke down as overbearing pressure enveloped him, smothering and crushing him as if he were no more than an ant.

"Stop." The voice was outwardly quiet and calm but held underlying menace and evil to rival Galbatorix's.

"To what end do you seek me out human" The pressure lifted from him slightly and Zarin breathed the foul air in gratefully. He had come to harness the spirit Durziac and now was his chance. Durziac seemed to guess his intentions however as he laughed cruelly.

"Another one of Galbatorix's pitiful pet sorcerers seeking to absorb my power perhaps?"

Zarin smiled sadly.

"Aye that was the case… but I see I have no chance against a soul as mighty and terrible as yours."

Durziac's harsh laughter ripped through him again and he let down his guard, for a split second. Zarin seized the opportunity and focused his substantial power into a single bolt of concentrated energy, blasting it at the spirit with all his power…

Durziac flinched and then smiled. Zarin felt the colour drain from his face as he saw this.

"Most impressive, for a human… Yes I think you will do." The spirit murmured thoughtfully.

Zarin tried to retreat but found his minds path blocked on all sides. "Wh-what do you mean?" he stuttered, terror's soft embrace enveloping him.

"Ha-ha you poor pitiful fool… You mean nothing to king Galbatorix, he knows no man alive can control me, he sent you here in the hope that you would be possessed, not me."

"No… Never! I will not allow some foul spirit to enter my mind."

"How much does the good king pay you, dear Zarin?" The question caught him off guard but he sighed reluctantly, accepting his fate as gracefully as he could.

"Not nearly enough Durziac"

Galbatorix started as Zarin's perfectly still figure moved for the first time in four hours. After twitching a few times and letting out a chilling scream the sorcerer fell to his knees clutching at his face.

"Durziac?" The king questioned, and Zarin raised his head slowly. His jet black hair was slowly acquiring a blood red tint to it; his eyes were black as night and his face pale as the moon. He grinned widely, showing sharply pointed, perfectly white teeth.

"You know why I have summoned you here?" The king spoke confidently, as if daring Durziac to challenge him.

"You have not summoned me Galbatorix… I come and go as I please. But yes I know why you have invited me here." Replied Durziac

"Eragon must not be killed, beaten yes but we need him and the dragon alive if we wish to create a new generation of riders."

Durziac was silent for a moment and then whispered

"Fine, but the second he becomes expendable or a threat… I will tear him to pieces."

He made his way to the door and turned, smiling cruelly at Galbatorix.

"The Shadeslayer will die by my hand, that I swear… He killed my brother Durza, and blood always tells..."

And so the Shade left.

A/N - I'm having a good time writing this, and i hope you are enjoying reading it. Only trouble is... you don't seem to be reading it, or reviewing anyway. If you have ANY comments on my story, writing style, whatever Pleaseee give me a review.

Those who have reviewed have my thanks.
Gregory