Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

Friend In Need

For weeks Henry taught Abe to fight vampires with his ax. Taught him how to destroy them and how to find them when they rendered themselves invisible.

"When Judas betrayed Jesus," Henry said as he spooned melted silver. "His reward was 30 pieces of silver. At that moment, those pieces became a symbol of betraying God." he said as he poured the silver onto Abe's ax. "Of evil. And silver became a curse upon the cursed."

---

Henry and Abe sat in a crowded bar. Henry ordered drinks, but Abe shook his head at the bartender and grabbed some peanuts instead.

"You will never see a vampire with silver on his person." Henry whispered to Abe looking down at his hands. He nodded at the bartender as he handed him his shot glass. "Nor see them reflected in mirrors." he continued. "The one thing God placed beyond the reach of a vampire."

Abe heard a cackle a familiar cackle and eyed a mirror seeing a shadow. His heart started racing not listening to Henry anymore, "Barts..." he whispered to Henry. "Henry, Jack Barts!" he started moving towards the door.

Henry grabbed him by the back of his neck and slammed him into the counter. "I give you the targets. That was our deal." he whispered. "This is not only about Jack Barts."

---

Henry brought up pictures of vampires including Jack Barts trying to get his point across to Abe.

"Vadoma, a ruthless enforcer." Henry said as a picture of a woman appeared. "And her brother." 

Abe eyed the new picture of a man with tinted glasses then blinked. He knew this man. "I've seen him before." he said as he pointed at the picture. "I saw him with Jack Barts."

"They call him Adam." Henry said leaning against the table. "He, from whom all others are made. Vampires have been in the New World for centuries." he moved onto a picture of Native land, "Slaughtering native tribes and early settlers, but when the Europeans arrived with their slaves...the dead saw a sinister opportunity."

Abe continued to listen and watched as the pictures kept passing by. He couldn't believe that this had been going on for how long Henry had said and he wanted to end it.

---

Springfield 1837

Henry sent me off into the world with a reminder. No attachments. No distractions. No friends or family. Besides, who could I trust? Anyone in this well-mannered city might very well be one of them.

Abe rode his white horse into Springfield looking for work. And a place to stay. He rode up to a small store, tied his horse to the post, then made his way towards the door, but was suddenly pushed back out.

"You son of a bitch!" a man yelled at another. "I ever see you here again, I will have your balls as a coin purse!" he yelled after ripping his jacket off and storming back inside.

Abe watched the one man run off then walked into the store.

"Good afternoon, sir. Joshua Speed at your service." Speed smiled at Abe behind the counter.

"Abraham... Uh, Lincoln." he nodded and took Speed's hand. "I need a bit of help." Abe said shifting slightly on his feet.

"Well, a friend in need, is a friend of Speed." Speed replied still smiling. "What can I get for you?"

"I don't suppose you know of any rooms for rent, Mr. Speed?"

"What sort of room are you looking for Mr. Lincoln?"

"A cheap one as I have spent all of my money on law books and have none to spare at the moment."

"Now, as you say you have none, am I to take your meaning as 'cheap' or 'free of charge'?"

"Well, on credit." Abe chuckled nervously.

"I don't think you'll find such a room in Springfield. People here are strangely accustomed to being compensated." Speed said as he picked up the jacket he took from the man brushing it off.

Abe nodded, "Good day." he said before bowing and putting his hat on. He walked back towards his horse tightening up his saddle until he heard his name called from back in the shop.

"There is one room, Mr. Lincoln." Speed said leaning against the door frame. "I was recently forced to part ways with a thieving prick of an associate and am, therefore, in need of a replacement. There's a room upstairs," he pointed back towards the shop, "It isn't much, but I suppose it could be had on credit if the tenant were willing to work here in return."