Z Day -
[I don’t care; it doesn’t matter. -Rhiannon]
SHAE
“I want you to stay away from Pagoda for a while,” my master said.
“Why, master?” We’d just finished a deep mind touch, and I was eager to return to Austin.
“I believe your priorities are beginning to stray,” my master said.
“Never, I am yours, master,” I said, hurt by my master’s words.
My master looked at me for a long moment, searching my face. “Yes, I see that. But I feel you are losing yourself to your passions. No, let me finish,” my master said, stopping me before I could interrupt.
“It is good to have passion. I was once young, as you are. But I learned that these types of feelings, the ones you’ve denied yourself for so long, aren’t healthy between two such as you. It will not end well, and before you get to the point of making a terrible mistake, I am going to save you from yourself.”
“But master—” I tried.
“Silence, child. It’s for your own good, and I will hear no more of it,” my master said adamantly.
“Yes, master,” I attempted to compose myself and conceal my displeasure.
“Now leave me; your schoolgirl whims have left me in a foul temper.”
Nodding, I withdrew to my room.
(∞*0)?(0*∞)
THE MASTER DOREEN
[OK, this bit, I’m not sure how exactly it came to be. Supposedly, Natalie (you’ll meet that bimbo in Book 1) pulled this out of Shae’s head. How she managed to get the parts Shae wasn’t around for is a mystery. -Rhiannon]
Once Shae had left the room, a young man in a deep blue suit came to stand beside me.
“You summoned me, master,” Willard said.
“Yes, I want you to watch our young courier. She will need support soon; as I understand it, support is one of your talents,” I said.
He nodded.
“Good. I don’t want her seeing that boy anymore. She is starting to rush her job to be with him,” I said.
“Would it not be simpler to remove the obstacle, master?”
I chuckled and patted his cheek. “Oh, Willard, for all your talents, you still have much to learn of a young girl's heart.”
“Young, master?” Willard asked.
“It’s relative to experience, I’m afraid, not numbers on a calendar,” I sighed. “No, I’m afraid she would fracture if he were to befall a tragic accident. She’s not one for giving away any part of herself; time has taught her this, and I thought she’d taken it to heart. But apparently, this boy has somehow claimed part of her, and although she has yet to accept that reality, she relishes it.”
“You see deeply into her mind, master,” Willard said.
“No child, it doesn’t take a mindtouch to see what goes on here,” I scoffed. “You only have to open your eyes to the facts. Don’t look at me like that, else I pluck the eyes from your head. Once you’re near my age, you’ll understand. IF you make it that long.”
Willard bowed again. “I live to serve.”
“Quit sucking up and go make your twisted little plans for my darling. I don’t wish her damaged, but I want this boy exercised from her spirit so I can get her back to work.”
“As you wish, master.” Willard bowed a final time and was gone.
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Once alone, my attention was drawn to the serenity of my garden outside. As I stared out the window, my mind wandered back to the boy I once cherished and the tragic ending that ensued.
(∞*0)?(0*∞)
SHAE
I found myself making courier runs to new locations every week. I had no idea my master’s political reach stretched so far. I found myself as far North as Canada and as far South as Panama. But I was never allowed back to Texas, let alone Austin, not even as a layover. My master’s orders were strict.
Then, there was my new “companion,” Willard. I knew my master had assigned him to watch me, but he’d never admit it. He claimed his job was to train me on all the routes so I could more diversify myself in case of emergency. Whenever I mentioned the fact I didn’t need a babysitter, he’d hold up his hands helplessly and say it was our master’s will. I couldn’t argue the point, as I knew it to be true.
But overall, Willard was a pleasant companion. He was never rude nor intrusive. If I wanted privacy, he gave it to me. His charm and good looks seemed to have a universal effect on women. It appeared to come to him with a practiced ease.
The more we traveled, the more I became used to him. I couldn’t bring myself to dislike the man; there was nothing to dislike. His tendency to always dress in a suit came to annoy me after a while, but I’d learned long ago that everyone had their quirks.
It became a challenge to me after that to come up with visiting locations where he couldn’t wear a suit. I thought I had him when we went to a beach in Mexico, but sure enough, he’d worn a suit.
So far, my tenacity was losing to his stubbornness. At least the game was helping to take my mind off James.
It seemed everywhere I went, I’d see his face. After a while, I had to mentally force myself to stop, as it was driving me crazy.
I knew I could get along without James. I’d existed a long time just fine without him. I didn’t NEED him…I just wanted him with me. A human’s life was short, and to miss any part of it was a loss.
But, my master’s decree was final, our bond enforced it. If she didn’t want me around him, I wouldn’t be. That’s all there was to it. Anytime I tried to bring the subject up, I was immediately silenced or assigned another duty to keep me busy.
It was starting to get hard not to hold a grudge against the woman who created me.
(∞*0)?(0*∞)
THE MASTER DOREEN
[Look, more mumbo jumbo. -Rhiannon]
“I have to send Shae back to Pagoda,” I said in defeat.
“But master, it’s only been four months, and I’m just now starting to gain her trust,” Willard said.
“That’s all you’ve managed to achieve in four months? You disappoint me, Willard. Your reputation…never mind. I don’t have any choice in the matter. Pagoda seems to have some fixation with her and has demanded her personally.”
“Demanded master?” Willard asked.
“Yes, yes. It seems his star is in a rising house, and he’s been granted boons. On this point, I could refuse, but what would it gain me? I would have to admit I could not control the simple lust of one of my couriers; how would that make me look?”
“You could say it was a personal matter that you felt Pagoda had some sort of slight—”
“Pish posh. I’d have to back that claim, and a simple mindtouch would wipe that away. No, I have no choice but to bend to his wishes,” I frowned.
“Master…if I may—” Willard said.
“Why am I so concerned with this boy’s hold on Shae?” I sighed and sat back in the ancient rocking chair I’d loved for so long. “Have you ever been in love? REAL love, not simple loin love?” I asked.
“Uh…” Willard began.
“Yes, I didn’t think so. Well, this girl has a touch of it and doesn’t realize it. She also doesn’t realize it will get her killed. She’ll do the most stupid things out of love for this boy and not think twice about it. This makes him a liability to not only her but to me as well. Anything she does while out in the world is a direct reflection of me.”
“Why don’t you simply turn the boy?” Willard asked.
“The thought has crossed my mind. But I’ve checked on him. He has too many ties to the real world to drop off the map. I don’t think his personality would accept it, either. Besides, we all know that even if he survived the turn, ‘things’ tended to change. If they split apart because of this, she’d never forgive me. No, if he is to be turned, she will be the one to have to do it. But I don’t think she ever will.”
“Why not?” Willard asked.
“She still sees him as a simple tap boy,” I said. “She loves him as such and doesn’t realize the truth of it.”
“I don’t think you give her enough credit, master…no disrespect,” Willard added quickly when I glanced at him.
“Have you touched her mind, Willard? No, I thought not. Don’t speculate on things you don’t understand. She won’t do it; this I am certain. Before you ask, I’ve considered killing Shae as well. But this would be a terrible waste. I’ve spent so long molding this girl.
“Do you know where I found her? She was a slave to a pirate. This…I hesitate to call him a man; he was one of our darker brethren. He’d enchanted his ship so that all aboard fell under his power completely. He killed the few whom the spell failed to work on, except for her. Her, he kept in his room as his own personal tap girl. This was well before our current practices and laws. He kept her young using his arts and held her against her will for over twenty years. Twenty years of doing as he pleased to that poor girl,” I spat in disgust.
“If I had not crossed him in Cuba, she’d probably still be chained inside that stinking cabin. It took me nearly twice as long to nurse her back to health, having turned her early to speed up the process. I guess I was feeling soft back then. Nowadays, I would have simply put her out of her misery like I did the rest of that damned crew. But no, I took her under my wing and put her back together again. She’s the only real daughter I’ve ever known,” I said.
Willard stood in silence.
“Now, I’ve told you more than you need to know. Away now, before I decide to take the thoughts back from you.”
“Yes, master.” Willard bowed and backed towards the door.
“Willard?” I said.
“Maser?” Willard asked.
“Do not speak of this again, nor to her,” I said.
“Of course, master.”