The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(71)

“Still lost, keep going,” Finn prompted and waved his hand for Seth to continue.

Seth nodded with a smirk. “There is a spell among the forbidden magic that can raise the dead. With a sacrifice of equal value you can return life to the fallen. Uindraely Merrodin discovered long before the Barrier that if you intentionally use a sacrifice that is not equal, you can create a Broken one,” Seth paused and motioned toward Zoelyn. “The creature that returns from the grave is not whole or truly alive. She exists on the borders of both, Finn. An Undrae does not remember its former life as she would if the spell worked properly. They are not the person they were before the grave. They siphon life as well as magic in a desperate attempt to make themselves whole. Uindraely Merrodin grew infamous in her practice of raising them in armies. Uindraely has been dead for hundreds of years, however, and yet here is one of her creations.” Seth paused again looking at Finn meaningfully.

“I’m trying to picture her as a threat, Seth, I really am, but the way she is cuddling the wall is killing my imagination for that,” Finn said dryly as he continued to watch Zoelyn.

“They are as they are taught Finn. This Undrae was formed of a young girl on both sides of that spell. The sacrifice as well as the fallen would have been innocent of nature. Imagine another raised in this method, though. Imagine one that was created with a darker purpose. This one is harmless, I will agree with you on that, but someone is creating them and it is stealing from you when they do. It’s possible that this girl was a test, a practice if you will. The next one raised could be much more dangerous,” Seth explained calmly.

“So how do we find her creator?” Finn asked after a long moment. “I can’t sense anything about her so I can’t trace it through magic,” he added thoughtfully and glanced at Seth.

“I will help this one if you will allow it. Perhaps when I have her in fit condition again her creator will come forward. If not I may be able to gather clues from her that will answer our questions. All I need is time and I will find the one that needs to be punished,” Seth answered with a smile.

“Do it then, but do it on the same rotation as Legacy. Jala is extremely pissed right now and I really don’t want to push her further. You can gather the girl or help her or whatever you need to do when you bring me Legacy,” Finn ordered and turned back for his throne. He paused beside Vaze’s motionless body and his shoulders slumped. “And, Seth, take Vaze back home and maybe, just maybe, Jala won’t realize you stabbed her Uncle. If she does, I am going to relay every prayer I get from her directly to you, and I’m using the term prayer lightly. They really aren’t prayers, Seth, not even close,” he added with a shake of his head.

Seth nodded quickly and moved forward to pick Vaze up by the belt once more. “I will return for the girl in a bit,” he announced with a nod.

Finn glanced back at him and smirked. “You are so lucky I dismiss Fiona on the nights that Legacy is here. She would be bitching for days over this and I would have you running the most tedious disgusting assignments I could think of as punishment for having to listen to her.” “If only you would dismiss her permanently,” Seth sighed as he disappeared from the room with Vaze.

Finn chuckled and his gaze returned to Zoelyn. She had been watching them both in utter silence afraid to make even the slightest sound.

Slowly she straightened against the wall and returned his gaze. “You tried to defend my son,” Finn said quietly. “I didn’t understand,” Zoelyn whispered hoarsely.

“Seth terrifies you and yet you still tried to defend Legacy,” Finn mused as he carefully picked his son up and sat down in the throne. He balanced the child in the crook of his arm and watched him sleep for a long moment before his eyes found hers once more. “Legacy is the only thing I have left of my former life. I have severed all other ties. He means more to me than anything and any who defend him I consider friend. You have no reason to be scared of me…” His words trailed off and he raised an eyebrow at her. “Zoey or Zoelyn? Jala used both when she was ranting and I’m not sure which you prefer. I think I favor Zoey myself. It’s less formal.”

“Zoey is fine,” she agreed as she moved cautiously away from the wall. “Why is he still asleep through all of this? Is he OK?” she asked hesitantly.

Finn grinned widely and nodded. “That was one of the reasons that we specified that Legacy be awake when Seth arrives. This child could sleep through the end of the world. It’s amazing really,” he chuckled.