My goal is to create a life I don't need a vacation from
-unknown

My senses return in a sudden disorienting burst, the first thing I see through my groggy consciousness is the blasted elf sitting across from me. The second thing I notice is a mind-numbing migraine and when I try to move my hand to my head I notice that my host body is somehow disconnected from my will by an almost glasslike mental constraint.

Rage, scorchingly hot burns through my mind, nearly melting the flimsy mental barrier.

These pathetic mortals think they can cage me like some animal?! They will-

My host begins speaking, seemingly responding to a question that was asked while I was unconscious.

"It's funny ya know. This spirit isn't anything like what I've been told to expect from shade lore. Sure the contempt for humanity is there but everything else…"

"How do you mean?" The elf asks in a dry cracking voice.

My host takes his time to answer, idly contemplating the hardened nails left behind from my lingering influence on his body.

"When it first noticed my presence in its mind there was a moment where I was at its mercy. It had every reason to simply erase me from existence and you know what it did instead?"

The elf's visage showed no sign of changing, simply waiting for my host's response.

"It bargained, it spoke with me and offered concessions to gain what it wanted. Even behind all the threats and bluster, there was something more, something human enough to desire companionship, well at least enough to not silence me outright anyway. In those first moments in Urubaen I feared Galbatorix had managed to capture a god, its power blew straight through the castle wards like they were paper to a flame, but after I watched the stars through its eyes I… I just don't know what to think anymore."

Slowly sighing the elf glances off to the left. Following the movement my host glances at what seems to be two fresh graves sporting saplings instead of headstones. The grief and regret wash through the elf before she turned back in our direction.

"I fear that I have no other options then. You vouch for this creature and killing you will only complicate the situation further. Be gone then, my spell will wear off in a few days. Give my apologies to your spirit. Atra du evarínya ono Varda." The elf says dismissively in a neutral tone.

My host stares in shock for a moment before a tinge of anger sparks within, the anger entering into his next words.

"You would let go just like that?! This spirit could be the key to dethroning Galbatorix and you are just going to let this opportunity just pass by!"

"What would you have of me? By your own admission, this spirit is too powerful to be controlled. Additionally, if our allies discover that we are cavorting with shades then the people will think us no better than the empire." The elf replies in the same neutral tone that only infuriates my host further.

The irritation and anger seem to press upon the already weakened mental divider causing it to crack and shatter in a gleaming rainbow of shards. Suddenly I felt myself in command of my host's body once again, mental cursing propagating through my mind from my displaced host's presence within my mind.

The elf tenses as she somehow detects the abrupt change of ownership. I feel the migraine double at the abrupt flood of sensory input and grimace in discomfort. I move my hand toward my head to rub at my temples but I am stopped by an even greater pain.

The elf seems to have taken my expression and movement as an aggressive act having drawn her blade in a flashing arc that leaves the blade piercing straight through my heart. The draw of chakra to the wound worsens the already distracting migraine pushing me over the edge. With a mental push, I shove my host's mind back into place and sign in relief at the dulling of the pain.

Elven eyes stare in confused horror as my host looks down at the blade embedded into his chest.

My host takes in a hissing breath before yelling out in shock and pain.

"FUUUUUU-"

I mentally wince feeling a slight twinge of something that felt suspiciously like regret

OH I'LL SHOW YOU REGRET! The mental voice of my host yells before shoving me into the forefront of our shared space.

My weakened state turns the mental struggle into a desperate wrestling match as we both try to push the other into the 'driver's seat' of our body.

Arya in a state of shock looks on at the shifting facial expressions of Karns face in horror. The human mage seemed to be fighting the spirit even as his heart beat itself to pieces against her blade which was still impaled within his chest. Finally, Karn seemed to emerge victoriously, panting heavily through tear stained eyes.

"Arya please," He says in a hoarse voice

She was doing all she could to try ending his suffering quickly but the only method of killing a shade wasn't working!

"Get it out."

"I'm trying! I'm sorry but I don't have the energy for another spell" Arya says sorrowfully

Karn looks back at her with confusion before he groans out another word.

"The blade Arya, the blade" He pleads.

With a stunned intake of breath Arya quickly removes her blade causing Karn to gasp in pained relief as the wound closed with a smoking hiss.

"What just happened?" Arya states in confusion

Karn laughs through a few coughs of blood before smiling up at Arya.

"That dear Arya was the groundwork being laid for a beautiful relationship."

XxxxX XxxxX

"I'm never going out again." I groan through the mind shattering pain pulsing through my skull

"Now now, that would be going against your promise now wouldn't it!" My host mentally says with vindictiveness

"I'm going to enjoy devouring your soul worm."

"And I might just let you AFTER we kill Galbatorix. Now what's with you anyway?"

"Just leave me be, I'll figure this out after I get some rest."

Mentally withdrawing, Karn contemplates what might have happened and asks Arya for a favor.

A mental probe from Arya has his tenant writhing uncomfortably and Karn decides to explore this weakness of his new partner when they were both in a better state.

AN: Watching Venom yesterday gave me some motivation for the story, again this fic isnt all that serious and is mostly for my own entertainment. If you spot any grammer mishaps please inform me as I do not have a beta and as always Im up for suggestions for the course of the story