Thirty One Days

Deal

My lungs burned against the cold air as I pushed myself to keep up with Istvan's strides, who never turned around to see if I was still there.
I didn't blame him though, I wouldn't want to look back and risk seeing something.
The sweater I wore began to feel as though it was choking me, shrinking around me while the wind blew through it chilling my bones. And perhaps my soul, at this point.
I pulled at the collar.
The trees grew thick and enormous, creating a almost impenetrable canopy of branches and leaves above us. Except for a few breaks in the branches where moonlight snuck in, guiding our passage through the forest. The ground was soppy as we trudge our way away from Madam Luna's house and I attempted to trick myself into think that Istvan knew where he was going. That we weren't lost.
But I knew we were.
"Istvan," I said through labored breathing as I mentally promised myself to start working out again if I survived this. "Please. Can we stop for a moment?"
He glanced back at me, his brown hair falling into his eyes before turning back around. "Do you trust it?"
Something flickered to the right of me but I fought the urge to face it, and ignored the creeping chill crawling up my spine.
"Trust what?" I asked as my shoulder rammed into a tree and I let out a small yelp, if it's not one thing than it's another.
"The forest." His voice was heavy as he kicked a rock out of the way, continuing through the moon lit path. The silhouette of his broad shoulders and fit frame was illuminated by the moonlight, but I couldn't help and notice a slight glow coming off of him as well. What did it mean? Does it have something to do with his heritage? Who his ancestors were?
However, Istvan had a point, the shadows have been playing tricks on my eyes since we left Madam Luna's property. In this forest they seemed longer, sharper, and unnatural. Something flickered again, this time in front of us but Istvan didn't stop. If anything, I believe he began moving faster.
The muscles in my legs were burning as we steadily moved through the trees, shoulder aching and my lungs burned from the cold air while my nose was warm. I vaguely wondered if I would have a nosebleed.
The pace slowed for a moment, I looked around Istvan to see why and saw a large log laying in the middle of the path surrounded by thorny bushes. Then I collided with something, again but it was Istvan who had come to a stop on the path.
"What?" I said standing next to him, his breathing had slowed down now unlike mine. The bushes next to us began to shake and caused us look down at them as they danced in the darkness. 
Grabbing into Istvan's hand I began pulling him towards the log, whatever creature was in the bushes followed. Inhabiting the surrounding bushes while keeping up with our pace. Before we reached the tree log something flickered in front of us, very tiny and fast. We paused and Istvan wrapped his arms around me protectively.
We waited, quietly, listening to the forest hum and leaves rustle in the wind. Nothing happened though, whatever had been flickering around us seemed to have vanished now.
Istvan looked down at me, his green eyes swallowing me up as he traced the edges of my face with his thumb. I noticed on the sleeve of his flannel was a dark spot, when I tried to see it he moved away, continuing in the path to the tree log.
My heart ached for him but I knew this wasn't the time.
Once we reached the tree that had fallen over, Istvan held out his hand for me to take, allowing me to go first. Taking it, I stretched over the log, straddling it for a moment, before dropping down to the other side. The ground squished under my shoes.
As Istvan made his way over, the flickering creature returned in front of me, a few feet away, moving from side to side. As the creature moved closer I began to back up against the log, rough, weather beaten wood presses against my back. Then I feel Istvan's legs swing over, touching my shoulders.
"Stevie?"
"It's coming,"
"What is?" His voice was edged in panic.
The tiny creature scurried closers, not darting from side to side now, but growing in size. A giant rat sprinted towards us, glowing in the moonlight with illuminated beady, red eyes and croaked, pointed fangs. I could hear it's claws tearing into the ground as it bound it's way closer, eyes locked on its target.
Istvan dropped down next to me, placing his body between the rat and myself. I could feel him brace himself, his body tensing as the sound of the earth being tore approached us. Then nothing.
"My god," Istvan breathed, I pushed him aside to see what was happening and couldn't hold in my gasp.
A striped, pale cat the size of a full desk was standing on top of the rat, snarling down at it. It's fangs glistened in the shadows as it's yellow eyes beaded down at the rodent, who wiggles under the pressure.
The air grew still as Istvan and I waited for the feline to makes its call, kill the rodent or let it go. But neither happened.
Instead, they both turned to a shimmering cloud and Madam Luna and Doctor Williamson appeared.
Madam Luna, on top still with her knee on his chest, looked years younger in the moonlight while Doctor Williamson gained wrinkles on his face.
"Well, well, seems like Tempest wasn't too much for you to handle." The Doctor laughed light, Madam Luna pulled a small dagger from her belt and pressed it against his neck.
"How dare you send one of my own," She spit back venom, glowing in her golden aura that overtook him.
He shrugged, biting back a laugh.
"He's a witch?" Istvan croaked in disbelief and a lightbulb went off in my head. A deep understanding that I didn't know that I knew, misplaced information that I was uncovering once again.
"He's not a witch. He doesn't have an aura." I stated, stepping out from behind Istvan and walking up towards them. Madam Luna's body was still alert as she turned his attention towards me.
"What is he, child?" She urged me on, eyes blue once again but still as wild as before.
"A thief." I spit, I wasn't sure how I knew but it was the only thing that made sense. Not a second later he disappeared from under neither Madam Luna and reappeared to the left of us.
Leaning on a tree, smirking. "You've caught me." He raised his hands in defeat and began chuckling gruesomely.  
My mind began working in a whirlwind, piecing little details together here and there. "You drew blood from Istvan, as the test to see if he was a Viven Mortua but for me, you just flashed a light in my eyes. You weren't testing anything, you were sampling his blood." I said matter of factly.
"Very good, and surprising." Doctor Williamson taunted, keeping his eyes on Madam Luna.
"Disgraceful." Madam Luna spit, she was still in a attack stance.
"Why my blood?" Istvan asked, he was still leaning on the tree plainly staring at the scooter in disbelief.
"Your blood is sweet, unlike most people of the night, and I want to know why." Doctor Williamson's lips curled away from his yellowed teeth, making my skin crawled. "What is in you?" He glanced over at Madam Luna. "You know, don't you?"
Madam Luna smiled sweetly and shook her head, as a howl sliced through the air. The sound of something running broke the stillness in the air, causing Doctor Williamson to turn around.
A wolf was approaching, golden eyes blazing, black fur blending it into the surround forest as an incredible speed.
Doctor Williamson turn back towards us, "You idiots, if he doesn't feed, we'll all die." And with that, he vanished again.
Jack struggled to stop, turning back into a man as he fell to Madam Luna's feet, panting uncontrollably. Body trembling as the sound of his bones cracking again echoed through the forest.
"What does he mean?" I asked, after walked over to Istvan and holding onto his hand. He was shaking. "And why is he concerned with Istvan?"
Madam Luna was silent for a moment, as Jack gathered hisself then sighed. "Istvan has Spirit in his bloodline." Her blue eyes turned towards us, "They're woodland people, rare and few, and amazing at healing."
I glanced at Istvan who was lost in thought. He had an identity now.
"What did he mean when he said 'we'll all die'?" I asked again, panic settling in the pit of my stomach.
Jack and Madam Luna looked at each other for a silent moment before Jack cleared his throat. "When those of the Night no longer wish to have their gifts, there is one option for them." Jack paused for a moment, the air grew chokingly thick around us, "The make a deal with Umbra Viatorem."