Telesa - The Covenant Keeper

by Lani Wendt Young

  Another deep breath and it all came tumbling out. About me and Nafanua. And telesā. And burning things even when I didn’t want to. And my training and how I was starting to get some measure of control over these new-found powers but they still alternately terrified me and entranced me. I told him how I had felt when I first came to Matavanu, and how she wanted to break and run free. It actually felt good to be able to talk about it, to release all the secrets, the caged fears and worries. I even admitted that I was afraid of Nafanua and her sisters – but I knew that I needed her and her teaching or else there was no telling what this power would do.

  And when I was done, he responded like a good scientist would. He asked question after question. He wanted to know first of all, if I was alright. Was I burnt anywhere? Did the fire ever burn me? Once he was sure I was telling him the truth, that I really was okay, then he moved on to more technical queries. How long had this been happening? What elements would trigger the fire? What would control it? He got a notebook and started writing as I talked. I told him about the first time – about fear and anger. I hung my head in shame as I described the way fire had hissed and spat, burning the boy’s face. His face darkened and my heart sank and I hoped that he would still want be friends with me, now that he knew I could hurt people.

  I paused and Jason leapt into the gap. “I can’t believe that little shit did that to you. I’m sorry to say this, Leila, but he deserved what he got. Hopefully he won’t go around picking on women anymore.”

  Relieved, I continued with a summary of the last month. I skipped over the parts about Daniel, telling Jason only that I had first exploded into flames after I had gone running. He stopped me.

  “Wait, so let me get this straight, you went for a run and then exploded? Hmm … so overheating is another trigger. That’s not good. Go on.” He scribbled some more and looked up expectantly. “What else?”

  I felt deceitful for leaving out essential pieces but forged on. Jason wanted to know specifics about me and Matavanu. “Tell me step by step, what happened today? How did it start?”

  He was shaking his head as I tried to explain how Matavanu felt, that she was speaking to me. Another interruption. “Leila, that’s not possible. A volcano speaking to you? Are you sure? Can you describe what made you think that? As detailed as possible please. What did it feel like?”

  I couldn’t stop the smile as I recalled the feeling. Of welcome. Of homecoming. Of knowing. “It was like something had been missing inside me, something essential. And then I felt a heat and it was like an emptiness, was filled. And she was happy. Matavanu was happy that I was here. Like she had been waiting for me. And Jason, she’s tired of sleeping. She’s tired of being caged up. She’s due to erupt. You know that, don’t you?” I was anxious, wanting him to believe me.

  He sighed and put the pen down, putting his hands to his forehead, wincing slightly as he touched the bandage. “Yeah, I know. Well, we suspected as much. All the measurements lead to that conclusion. We didn’t think it was imminent though. And we still don’t have enough info to figure out just how big the eruption is going to be. We’re trying to gauge it, trying to get all the data together before we start informing the necessary authorities. There will need to be an evacuation organized but I’m just not sure how extensive it should be.” He looked at me with a question on his face. “Leila, what you did today, moving the earth and closing that rift back up – how did you do that?”

  I shook my head, looking at my hands. “Jason, I have no idea. I mean, Nafanua has told me that afi fanua telesā can generate earthquakes, but she never said anything about how. I suspect, because she doesn’t know. We’ve mainly just focused on techniques to control the fire bursts – they’ve been the more worrisome, more dangerous thing. Today, I used the same method for controlling fire that Nafanua taught me. Focus, visualize what you want the fire – or in this case – the earth, to do and then feel it happen. And it listened. I gotta admit I was a little surprised that it worked. Matavanu didn’t want to listen. She liked being out. I had to tell her twice.”

  Jason grimaced at my explanation. “Hmm, yeah okay, so we’re back to talking about Matavanu like it’s alive.”

  “But she is, Jason. She speaks to me, and, even though she fought me a little, she listens to me! You saw what I did today, why is it so hard to believe?” I was getting a little annoyed. “Look, I’ll show you. You were knocked out so you missed this part.” I stood and stripped off my now-dirty cotton t-shirt. His eyes widened in confusion.

  “Leila, what are you doing?”

  “Oh, turn around. Just look somewhere else for a minute. Go on. Turn around!” My eyes were blazing and Jason raised both hands in supplication.

  “Fine, fine. Whatever! I’m turning around.” He swung around on his stool, still muttering under his breath about the wackiness of women. I unhooked my bra and dropped it on the ground beside my top, quickly unzipped my jeans and wriggled out of them. I looked around for a covering of some kind, saw a towel bunched up on a camp bed and hastily wrapped it around me before walking a few feet out of the tent.

  “You can look now.”

  Jason turned and lifted an eyebrow at my new attire. “Hmm okay, so what am I supposed to be looking at? I’ve seen you in a towel before Leila and while it is gorgeous on you, it’s not really blowing my mind with scientific mystery or anything.”

  I gritted my teeth “Oh just shut up, Jason. I want to be able to save my clothes for after.”

  “For after what?”

  “This.” I raised my arms to the sky and before his jaw even had time to gape, nakedness was transformed into an incendiary inferno. Because Matavanu was so close, because she was so volatile right now, the explosion was a little more dramatic than I had intended. A wave of heat flashed through the surrounding air, igniting several bushes behind me. It had Jason jumping to his feet and staggering backwards, a hand shielding his face from the jeweled conflagration.

  “What the hell?!” he shouted. “Leila!” he looked around wildly, grabbed a sleeping bag and made as if to run towards me. Quickly, I held up a warning hand.

  “No, Jason, don’t come near me. I’m okay. It’s me in here. I’m okay.”

  I turned slightly and beckoned to the wayward flames in the low brush and grass around me, gathering them back to me, containing the fire to only the spot where I stood. Jason’s tortured voice called to me. “Leila? You’re on fire. This can’t be happening. You’re on fire and you’re telling me you’re okay. This is not happening. This is not real!”

  I sighed. Clearly, this was going to be harder than I thought. I rolled my eyes. Scientists sure were slow to process when confronted with unexplained ‘unscientific’ phenomena. I held my hands out and spoke slowly and clearly. “Jason, it’s me. This is what I was telling you about. Fanua afi. Earth fire. This is my power. I can tap into the earth’s stored, potential energy and convert it to heat and light. That’s not all. I can sense out subterranean lava and magma rivers, trapped heat and manipulate it. I haven’t figured out all the hows, the whys and whats of this, but this is me. In a nutshell. I can self-ignite. And not get burned.”

  Jason shook his head with that slight panicked look in his eyes. “Leila, I … I don’t know what to think. What to say right now. This, you – it makes no scientific sense. It’s impossible. You’re impossible.”

  I laughed nervously with not a little sadness. “Impossible, that’s another word for saying I’m a freak right? A weirdo?” I half joked, “Hey, do you think I’m even human?” I didn’t wait for his reply. I turned and walked away from him, towards the edge of the sloping mountainside. I stood and looked out over the broad expanse of ocean and sky. At the slowly sinking sun. At blue painted with crimson orange swirls and focused on calm. Peace. Stilling the fire. Slowly, from the tips of my fingers to my shoulders. I picked up the towel and once the flames were all out I wrapped it around myself in one quick motion. And then turned back to face Jason.

  “So t
here you have it. My big bad secret. I’m sorry about what happened today. Nafanua warned me what might happen if I came up here with you again. I should have listened to her.” My shoulders slumped defeatedly as I thought back to the light-hearted joy of the past three days with Jason and wondered if there would be any others. Now that he had seen what I really was.

  Jason walked up to me and took me in a big, strong hug. Then he backed away and reassured me, “Hey, you’re not a freak. You make no scientific sense but you’re still Leila. The girl who can’t surf for shit and who will never, ever walk down a catwalk wearing stilettos! But you’re not a freak, okay?”

  As usual, I had to laugh. Jason always seemed to have that effect on me. He continued, “You and I have got a lot of talking to do, but I think it can wait until later. Get dressed and let’s get the heck out of here. The further away we are from this volcano, the better I’ll feel.”

  Within the hour, we were packed and on the helicopter back to Upolu. It had started to rain again by the time we landed. Lightning lit up the evening sky as we drove away from the Fagalii airstrip. It made me think of Nafanua and I wondered if she and her sisters had anything to do with this storm.

  We continued up the Aleisa road and drove through the tall gates to the house. We had just run through the sleeting rain up to the shelter of the patio when the sight of six women walking towards us from the poumuli forest caught us both. It was Nafanua and the other storm sisters. Dressed in black and completely uncaring of the storm that raged about them. It was beautiful in a starkly eerie kind of way. The black sky was lit with streaks of lightning and wind whipped their long hair as the women seemed to glide over the grass. Without knowing why, I moved closer to Jason, seeking some kind of security in standing behind his shoulder as the women came closer. Nafanua was unsmiling as she greeted us,

  “Leila, Jason – you’re back. How was your trip?”

  I gulped and hoped desperately that Jason wouldn’t say anything about the craziness of our day. I shouldn’t have worried. He smiled that easy smile of his as he replied, “Oh it was fine. I’m sorry to bring Leila back so late, I had a lot of survey measurements to do and Leila was very patient waiting for me. Then the chopper was delayed picking us up as well. The storm, you know.”

  Nafanua nodded. “Yes. The air is angry tonight.” Her face darkened as she looked skyward. I felt a chill at her expression. But then, as if remembering her manners, Nafanua refocused back on us, waving her hand at the women behind her. “Jason, I don’t think you have met my sisters.” She was gracious and courteous as she went through the introductions. “We hope you’ll excuse us, but we have some family matters to see to and must be going. Actually …” she paused, and seemed to be considering Jason speculatively, “Leila, you will be alone tonight at the house. Netta has the night off and I probably won’t be back until morning. Netta made plenty of dinner before she left and you must both be famished. Jason, please, stay and have some refreshment, keep Leila company if you are able.” She turned to her sisters, “Come we have a long drive ahead of us.” She threw me a casual farewell over her shoulder as they got into her Land Cruiser. Jason and I stood and watched them drive away. I wondered if they were on another mission and wondered why I had not been included. Jason interrupted my thoughts. He had a somewhat embarrassed look on his face.

  “Umm, do you think she really meant that? Is this really okay with Nafanua? And with you?”

  “What? Is what okay?” I had no clue what he was referring to. He had to raise his voice as thunder crashed and rolled through the mountains around us.

  “This, me being here while they’re gone. You know …” he spoke delicately, “unchaperoned. Isn’t this going against Samoan etiquette? I hate to leave you here by yourself, but if it’s not okay, then I’ll get going.”

  I rolled my eyes at him and pulled at his sleeve as I headed for the doorway. “Don’t be ridiculous. How many times do I have to tell you that Nafanua is not like most Samoan mothers. she’s totally fine with you hanging out here. Besides,” I grinned at him over my shoulder, “she knows that I can set you on fire if you try any funny business with me.”

  He followed me into the living room, tiptoeing around the mats with his wet, muddy feet. “Yes, well there’s lots of different ways to set people on fire, isn’t there? And not all of them are bad.”

  I had to laugh at his cheek. “You idiot. It’s exactly comments like that that will get your butt set alight and kicked out the door, boy! Watch it.”Our joint laughter banished away the slight edge of awkwardness at being left alone with an entire house to ourselves. As an entire night stretched out ahead of us.

  I fetched Jason a towel and some dry clothes (thank goodness for lavalava, one size fit all), showing him to the guest bedroom before going upstairs to shower and change myself. I rifled through my treasure trove of clothes from Nafanua, for some unknown reason rejecting the usual white tee and instead pulling on an aqua cotton embroidered top with my denim shorts. I towel dried my hair as I came down the stairs. “Jase? Are you done?”

  I had just turned into the living room, when there was a particularly vivid slash of lightning and then all the lights in the house went off. I was left standing in complete darkness while a storm raged outside. Before I could rope it in, a knife edge of panic cut through me and my serial killer paranoia kicked in. I was in a colonial mansion miles away from anything and anyone, stranded in the middle of the tropical bush in a power-cut. Images of blade-wielding attackers creeping up on me had my heart pounding and it was a struggle to keep the fear out of my voice as I called out again for Jason. “Jase!? Where are you? Jason!” A wild thought came to me unbidden. Oh no, what if he left? What if he went home? What if he couldn’t handle all the unchaperoned stuff and he’s gone and left me here all by myself?

  “Leila.”

  His voice startled me and I jumped and screamed. “Hey, hey, calm down it’s only me.” I reached out with faltering hands towards the voice and he took hold of me. “I’m here. Don’t worry, it’s just me.”

  I clung to him gratefully. “Ohmigosh, you scared the hell out of me! I hate the constant power cuts in this country. I thought you’d gone and left me here. I gotta admit, I am so glad that you’re here. Imagine how freaked out I’d be if I was home alone on a night like this!”

  I was close enough to him to feel his breath against my skin as he laughed, low and long. “What? What are you laughing about?”

  He shrugged in the darkness, with his arms still lightly clasped around my waist. “Nothing. I was just thinking that a girl who can set herself on fire and blow up stuff, well she kind of doesn’t need to be scared of the dark, you know?”

  I put two hands against his chest and pushed myself away from him with a rueful laugh. “Okay, okay, so you’ve got a point. I forgot about that stuff. You gotta remember that it’s all new to me and I still haven’t got my head around it. It still doesn’t seem real, you know?” I peered into the darkness at the outline of his face, trying to ‘see’ him and gauge his reaction. There was no teasing in his reply.

  “I think you’re doing just fine. I don’t know how I would be coping if this stuff was happening to me.” Then his voice changed to anticipation. “Hey, maybe you could make us a light? So we can figure out where the lanterns are in this house.”

  “Sure.” I stepped away from him and cupped my hands in front of me, focusing my energy, my thoughts. It was a simple thing and the flame that lit in my hands was a beautiful shimmering warmth. I smiled as I looked up at Jason, “See? Let there be light!” the words caught in my throat as the flamelight danced on the man standing in front of me. “Oh.”

  Jason was barefoot and shirtless. The red and black lavalava I had given him clung to his hips, the t-shirt was flung over his shoulder. Lightning ripped through the outdoors again, and the white flash highlighted every cut of his chest and tapering stomach with its faint blush of blonde hair. I had never thought of him as being beautiful before – t
hat was a word I had reserved for Daniel. But standing there in a shadowy kitchen with only a piece of cloth wrapped around his waist, Jason was all gold, tanned skin, muscle and sinew. Words fled as I realized that only a moment ago, I had been encircled in those arms, pressed against that skin. I flushed and the air suddenly seemed a constricting hot thing. It seemed I couldn’t take my eyes away from the sight of him and I was struggling for composure. Get a grip, Leila! Snap out of it. Jason had been distracted by my lit hands but now he turned his excited eyes to mine, “Leila, this fire thing, it’s awesome …” His words trailed away as our gaze locked.