Setting the Story Right

By theanonymouslibrarians

Note: I do not own Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter or any of the series's characters.

Henry entered the study quietly, avoiding the floorboards that he knew would creak. Nevertheless, a smile touched the corners of Abraham's mouth. Over a century of friendship, several decades of which had been spent living together, had created a bond between the two men that few vampires or humans could ever comprehend. It would take more than stealth for Henry to hide his presence from Abe.

That smile faltered when the former president glanced up from his journal and caught sight of what Henry held. "Henry..." His voice held a tone of warning as he eyed the book that the other vampire held in front of him like a shield. "You didn't..."
"Of course not!" Henry said hurriedly. "I wouldn't! You know I only let him publish the last one with your permission!"

"I couldn't go out in public for months after that! Not without some type of disguise!" Abraham fumed. "People were convinced that I was a vampiric Abraham Lincoln!"

Henry restrained himself from pointing out that this was exactly who his friend was; this had been a point of contention between them since the book's publication (even though Abraham had given his full permission to Henry to share his journals with Seth, and even though Henry had let Abe read the manuscript before it was published) and part of the reason Henry had agreed to a sequel was to make peace on this issue. "This one isn't about you. It's about me." Abraham blinked, leaning back in surprise. "And I think you'll find I've remedied the situation." Henry tossed the book onto Abraham's desk and backed up a few paces.

"How-"

"Just...just read it." And Henry beat a hasty retreat before Abe could raise any objections.

They didn't talk about the book again in the next few days. Henry occasionally saw Abraham reading it, marking it up with notes, but he didn't ask his friend to reveal his thoughts on it. Most of the events Abraham was already familiar with. The two had few secrets from one another, and Abe was intimately familiar with aspects of Henry's life which the vampire had felt too dark or shameful to make public. It was the ending that really mattered, and Abraham would make his thoughts known if and when he wanted to.

That moment came one night when Henry was swimming laps in their pool. He'd reached the edge of the pool and had been about to flip, when he had sensed his friend's presence. Looking up, Henry saw Abraham frowning down at him and his heart sank.

"I finished the book."

"And?" Henry asked with trepidation.

Abraham sighed. "It'll help, the rabid fans thinking I'm dead..."

"But...?"

"It's just...did you have to make my death so gruesome?"