A Human Servant is a human who willingly serves and who is bound to a Master Vampire by "Marks". Both the Master Vampire and the Human Servant gain power from this metaphysical union. Not only in the form of an ally, but metaphysical power. The Master Vampire depending on the Human Servant can increase in power, and the supernatural abilities of the Human Servant recieve an increase in strength as well. Not all Master Vampires can create a Human Servant, and those who are able to can only have one.
If the Human Servant or the Master Vamp is killed, it is possible that action will kill both. However, the stronger the beings involved the more likely they will be to withstand the instant psychic separation. Examples from the books include
Nikolaos And Buchard
Buchard was killed and Nikolaos, former Master Of The City of St. Louis survived until she herself was killed.
Earthmover and Mr. Inger
Both died when EarthMover , The Master Vampire, Was killed.
Colin And Nikki
Colin was a Master Of The City who died several days after his Human Servant Nikki was killed. The most interesting aspect of this pairing was that Nikki hated Colin but was bound to him for eternity due to the Fourth Vampire Mark. If the Human Servant is Marked unwillingly, it causes intense and everlasting hatred for the Master Vampire.
Yasmeen and Marguerite
While Marguerite was killed, Yasmeen, The Master Vampire survived the Psychic seperation. This pairing shows that while death of one most commonly equals the death of the other, it is not a certainty.
The Human Servant out of affection or necessity becomes a daytime protector, confidant and equal partner to their Master. And for this partnership, the Human Servant gains a great deal. Immunity to the Master's gaze; increased strength, stamina, ability to heal with vampire quickness, resistance to injury, and immunity to disease and poison. They gain the Vampire's physical strength and speed and in some instances by opening up the marks, the vampire and human servant can share and use each others supernatural abilities to a limited extent. The one exception to this is magical or supernatural abilities that draw their power from life. Vampires cannot control or even use any power that springs from life. The Human Servant even gains immortality and will live as long as their vampire master does.
The downside to this is that after the fourth mark, the Human Servant is completely subservient in some ways to the Master Vampire. To the point where any direct order is unquestioningly obeyed. The Human Servant wont be able to resist complying. They have no choice, in more ways than one.
Masters who have to share blood with their human servant in order to feed are considered weak. A strong vampire can do it with touch alone. If the servant touches the master too long or forcefully, the servant's skin will deaden for the night and the vampire will be unable to feed in that manner.
When a Vampire's companion places their hand on the pulse of the Vampire's wrist, it declares that they are his human servant or lover. When a Master Vampire does this in return it signifies that in the eyes of the Master Vampire, both are equals.
Since Necromancers have an affinity for the dead in all their manifestations they make powerful Human Servants. As Human Servants Vampire tricks would no longer work on Necromancers, and the Necromancer is given free will in the relationship. Completely unbound by the metaphysical force that makes other human servants forced to obey direct orders from their Master.
Marking a Lycanthrope (Animal To Call)
"The joining of master and animal is not the same as between master and servant. It is not quite as intimate. I will not be able to taste food through Richard, as I could through you. Richard is an alpha werewolf. He is an equivalent power to mine in some ways. He will have more control over my entering his dreams, his thoughts. He would be able to keep me out, as it were."
The Marking of an Animal to Call is slightly different than that of a human servant. Many of the abilities that the Human servant gains, the Animal to Call gains as well, but not all. The vampire cannot taste food through an Animal to Call, and they have more of an ability to control certain aspects of the relationship. They still grow in power and can draw a limited amount of ability through their Vampire Master, but not to the extent that a Human Servant can.
