Z Day -4,709

  SHAE

  The honor of being a courier was one that had to be earned over years of dedication and service. I earned mine the hard way and clawed my way to the top. As a courier, I was given the authority to act and make decisions for my master.

  Before and after any event a master couldn’t attend, a courier would be armed with the most up-to-date information from their master via a mindtouch. These were deep mind links where a master ‘reshaped’ the courier’s thought process to more mirror their own. With enough time, the courier could predict how their master would respond to most questions.

  The short flight from Austin brought me to my master’s chambers. They weren’t the gaudy gothic halls I’d seen more than once among the old ones. Instead, my master had gone for the simple American country-style home with specially coated windows and even a little garden out back. It was a bright and airy place I had always felt comfortable in. It reminded me of what ‘normal’ should feel like.

  My master was sitting at a small breakfast table reading an old, beat-up romance novel and didn’t bother looking up when I entered. I never understood the appeal of romance novels; they were usually quite terrible, but they were my master’s guilty pleasure. Judging by the well-read state, this novel was one of my master’s favorites.

  “Hungry?” the ancient voice asked.

  “No, master, I ate before I came,” I said.

  My master sniffed and took my hand. The old master’s hands were slightly gaunt and wrinkled as that of an 80-year-old. With the slow rate of aging most vampires suffered, there was no telling how old my master truly was.

  “You’ve tapped him. Sit, tell me about it,” The master ordered, pulling a small metal tube from the table. She placed it against my finger, the tiny needle within allowing a drop of blood to well up. The master touched the dot of blood and sighed as I began to tell my story.

  We sat, not moving as our minds were joined, and we ‘talked.’ At last, my master broke the link and patted my hand. “Poor child, I feel you’re in for more than you bargained for with that boy.”

  “How so, master?” I asked curiously.

  Chuckling, “Oh dear,” was all my master said and looked outside. “Do you see that hummingbird out near the feeder?”

  I knew the master’s fondness for the creatures and saw it hovering outside. Its head dipped in and out of the small feeder, drinking the sickly-sweet nectar inside.

  “A hummingbird has to work so hard to keep aloft, its wings flapping so fast you can’t see it without effort.” My master continued, “But while you or I could never get our arms to move that fast, the bird does it without thinking; it's instinct. It doesn’t have to think about it to make it happen; it just does what it feels it needs to do.” The master turned those pale hazel eyes on me. “What do you feel you need to do, child?”

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  The question caught me off guard, and I didn’t know what to say.

  “Don’t fret, child. There will be plenty of time for you to figure out how to flap your arms later. For now, we need to discuss business. But, before we get on with it, I will say that your timing is impeccable, as you will need your tap boy for the coming summit.”

  I was startled. “Do you really think…I mean, I don’t know if he’ll be ready in time, master.”

  “That is his purpose after all, now hush. All will be well. Give me your hand, and let us begin,” my master’s smile offered no room for hesitation. The master’s will was one which their most basic inclination translated to a command in my mind. I took my master’s hand as we started.

  I dreaded returning to Pagoda. He had claimed the Austin region as his own, and my job was to relay my master’s wishes. My master chided me for my foolish notions of dread. Yes, Pagoda was a pompous, arrogant so-in-so, in my master’s words, but he served a purpose even if I could not understand it.

  In time, I would learn the reasons behind my master’s actions, but not today.

  Mentally dressed down, I focused on allowing my master to construct my thoughts in a manner that would be most helpful. I enjoyed this part. My master’s touch was tender and warm in my mind, something I tried to emulate on those I tapped. The skilled thoughts of my ancient master were precise and never erred. In no time, I was released to rest.

  Afterward, I watched as my master slumped from the effort. Such gentle precision was taxing on my master, making me appreciate it all the more. I’d heard of other couriers whose masters were not so caring. They would sludge through their mind, slapping together what they needed without concern for the courier. This usually burned out the courier quickly, but that was little concern to those masters. To them, couriers were cheap and expendable.

  But to my master, I was family. For this reason, I strived to make my master proud. As family, we took care of one another. I consoled my master, offering sustenance from my body.

  “No child, such things are for the young; I need not your essence. Go now; we both need rest. I want you to stay a while in case I change my mind.”

  I bowed out and returned to my residence on the property. Even though I was only in residence a handful of days a month, I’d taken the time to decorate it to my tastes. Like Shelby, I picked things from my travels about the world that touched me. Unlike Shelby, I was selective in what I brought home.

  My travels to the various domains kept me constantly on the move for my master. I didn’t mind, except when I had to deal with the likes of Pagoda. Luckily, couriers didn’t have to make physical contact with those they carried messages to. If they did, it would negate the point of the mental preparation, as one master can undo the mental locks of another.

  Instead, a courier would exchange information with another courier, each acting as a buffer for their masters. Communication took a bit longer, but it was safer, more secure, and traditional.

  I knew the process worked but didn’t try to understand how it worked. I’d come across a few who had tried to take advantage of me, thinking my youthful appearance meant I was indeed a youth. They had been caught, punished and removed from their positions.

  My head throbbed as I lay down in my bed. Picking up the book on the bedside table, I opened it to where I’d left off and started to read to calm my mind. James kept popping into my head, distracting me. At first, I felt bad for him, the look on his face when he returned from the bathroom at Drakes. But I couldn’t help chuckling; he was too adorable. I smiled as I turned back to my book.