Shepherds on the Hills of Eternity

Psychic vampires! People who can feed on your energy, and they don't even need to touch you to do it! If they do touch you, they can drain your lifeforce entirely.

In this short story, Steve is dating Diana.  She's religious and she attends a strange church run by a man named Brother Benjamin.  While Steve is not religious, he agrees to attend the service because Diana is hot, and guys will do just about anything to be with an attractive woman--including sitting through a boring church service.

But this service is unlike any Steve has ever seen.  There's a palpable energy in the room and all of it seems to flow directly to Brother Benjamin!  Steve is drawn into Benjamin's web.  Benjamin is looking to create strong-willed people who can do what he does--taking energy from others.  A little bit here, a little bit there, and no one will know the difference.  But when the energy starts to flow, how can you stop it?  And once you're addicted to the life energy of others, how far will you go to keep it coming?  Will you kill?  After all, if you keep feeding, you can remain young forever.  You'll never get sick.  You'll have amazing charisma drawing people to you through sheer force of will.  And what are the consequences for those providing the energy?

Steve must face the moral and ethical dilemma placed before him because Benjamin is growing stronger, and he's looking to eliminate anyone who is not on his side.

This short story originally appeared in the collection Quick Shots by Gary Jonas, so if you own that, you already have this one.