Telesa - The Covenant Keeper

by Lani Wendt Young

  “No tell me, what was it?”

  A shrug. “They said that he’s been cursed with a Samoan sickness, by an evil spirit. That’s why the doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong. And that’s why …” he broke off and looked down at me with tenderness in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Leila. They said he’s going to die. Soon.”

  “No! I won’t accept that. We can’t. There’s got to be something we can do.” I left Daniel’s side and went to gaze down at Jason, my voice dying away, “That’s it. There is something we can do – come on.”

  “What? Where are we going?” Daniel was bewildered as he followed me, easily catching up, with his long stride.

  “There is something we can do, well, I mean there is SOMEONE who can help. Nafanua and the Covenant – they’ve got cures for everything.”

  In the car park, I rejected Daniel’s green truck for my much faster Wrangler. “Let’s take my car.” The ride up the mountain road to Aleisa was one of screeching tires and Daniel’s terse warnings.

  “Watch out, there’s a pig on the road! Slow down, there’s a speed bump coming up OUCH! Never mind … You know I would like to live to make it to my next birthday.”

  I ignored him. Focused on the road. Focused on devising a strategy that would make Nafanua help me, help Jason. After all, when we had last met, the battle lines had basically been drawn in the sand between us. Yes, Nafanua was telesā. But she was still my mother, wasn’t she? And surely she would at least listen to me? Help me?

  We drove in through the imposing front gates and I came to a halt. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I took a deep breath. This was it. I was afraid of what I would find inside, but the thought of Jason, struggling for life back at that hospital, gave me the resolve I needed.

  Daniel sensed my trepidation. “Are you sure you want to do this?” I smiled weakly at him and nodded. I had told him my mother and I had parted on bad terms but he had no idea just how bad. He still knew nothing of storm criers, lightning callers, and rain summoners – and if I had my way, that’s the way it would stay.

  “Yes. I have to. She’s made millions with her knowledge of plants and natural healing. I know she can help Jason.”

  He walked with me up the verandah steps, but I stayed him with a gentle hand. “Can you wait out here? Please? I think it’s best if I talk to her alone.”

  Daniel didn’t look like he liked it, but he let me go. “Okay, I’ll be waiting right here for you. Call out if you need me, alright?”

  I really didn’t think he’d be much help against a covenant of angry matagi telesā, but still, I was glad I wasn’t alone. Steeling myself, I opened the door and went in.

  Nafanua was sitting with the others in the front living room, opened bottles of wine, and half-filled glasses proclaiming they were midway through their usual weekend meeting. They didn’t look surprised to see me. But then, they didn’t look happy either. Sarona’s drawl welcomed me first.

  “Well, look who’s come back for a visit. See here ladies, it’s our baby sister, Leila! What a welcome surprise, we didn’t think we were ever going to have you join one of our Covenant meetings again, did we?”

  There was a painful silence. “Ah, I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting but I was wondering, Nafanua, if we could talk? Please?”

  My eyes sought hers and found nothing but midnight steel. “Leila, whatever you’ve come to say, you can say in front of all of us. We are one here, you know that.”

  This was not going the way I had hoped. I had wanted to speak to Nafanua alone. A daughter to a mother. But it was clear there would be no familial quarter given here. Inwardly, I was shaking, but on the outside I was calling on all my Folger poise. I raised my chin defiantly. “Fine then. I know that we parted on bad terms and I accept that I have disappointed you, upset you. But I’ve come here today to ask you please for your help.”

  Sarona smirked and looked around at the others. “Oh, do you hear that, sisters? She wants help. From her sisters. And just what makes you think that you even have the right to ASK for help from the sisterhood you have turned against?”

  Nafanua stood, silencing Sarona with a single look. Her expression was unreadable, her voice low. “What help do you seek from me, my daughter?”

  Encouraged by her reminder that yes, she was my mother, I forged ahead. “Jason is sick. Very sick. The doctors don’t know what’s wrong with him and he’s going to die. But I know that you can help him. All your knowledge, of plants and medicines and everything, you can save him. I’m asking you, please?”

  A ripple of laughter went through the room as if the women had shared a joke I didn’t know. There was disappointment in Nafanua’s eyes as she slowly shook her head. “You don’t understand anything, do you? You left, turned your back on your sisters. Rejected the gifts you have been given. These are serious crimes.”

  “I don’t understand, what’s all that got to do with Jason?”

  Sarona interrupted impatiently. “I told you she was a fool, Nafanua. Even now, she cannot even begin to grasp the immensity of the situation, of what we are, of what covenants she’s broken!” She stood and pointed her finger at me. “You were warned what would happen if you broke covenant with us. But even worse, you shared your gifts with a man. And allowed him to test you like a lab rat. Surely you didn’t think that would go unpunished?”

  Slowly but surely, like the creeping of a centipede up my spine, I felt, I knew – the awful truth. “You did this!? You made Jason sick? Those nurses were right, he’s dying because of a curse, a mai Samoa!?”

  Manuia jumped in, waving a languid hand. “Oh don’t be so melodramatic, Leila. We’re not spell casters and witches from the 18th century. We poisoned him. A simple enough thing when you know as much as Nafanua does about earth’s natural weapons.” She smiled at me warmly and studied her hot pink painted nails, “You are right about one thing though – yes, he is going to die. Oh, I’d say, he’s got about another forty-eight hours before he limps his way to an agonizing death. No-one can help him now.”

  “No. You can’t do this, surely you’re not that heartless?” I appealed to the woman I had mistakenly thought that I knew, “Nafanua, you worked with Jason, he was a friend! He was, IS, my friend. He’s a good man, you can’t let this happen.”

  “You’re mistaken. Again. This boy’s fate was not decided by us. It was you who betrayed your gifts with him. It was you who gave yourself up to his Western science. That boy is dying because of you. There will be blood on your hands by tomorrow.”

  “No …” a sob, half strangled with fear.

  I was stunned by the madness of it all. I looked around the room, searching for reason somewhere, for friendship. I had laughed, talked, and danced with these beautiful women. They had taken me into their homes, their arms, their circle, and made me one of them. And yet, in their eyes now, all I found was coldness. I would find no help, no quarter here. I thought of Jason teaching me how to surf, laughing at me as I fell down again and again. I thought of the hours spent laboring over calculus as he patiently explained algorithms again and again. And I thought of his smile as he promised to help me. To be my friend, no matter what. No. I would not let Jason die.

  Desperation made me rash, dislodging my fragile hold on control. The familiar searing pain rippled through my fingers as fire made its presence known and I struggled not to scream as my hands erupted into flame. The Covenant tensed and the situation went from bad to worse as I confronted them with the only reaction I knew might get results. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do. All I was sure of was that I would not stand by and do nothing.

  I held my fiery hands out in a pleading appeal. “Nafanua, please I don’t want to do this …” I didn’t get to finish. Before I even sensed movement, Sarona acted.

  “You little bitch! You would use fire against us?” From the stillness, a rushing torrent of wind hit me with all the force of a running linebacker, knocking me off my feet, throwing me back, smashing me through the doo
rs and out onto the lawn.

  I lay there reeling, gasping for air, my body and mind numb to all else but the bone-rattling pain. My fire had gone out at the unexpectedness of the attack, extinguished just like the blowing out of a candle. Dimly I was aware of Daniel running to kneel by my side.

  “Leila! Are you alright? What happened?”

  Even amidst my pain, I cursed my stupidity. What had I done? I had brought Daniel here, right into the lion’s den. Where six very angry telesā could now take their vengeance out on him. I tried to talk, tried futilely to push him away. “Daniel, go. Get away from here. Before it’s too late.” But he wasn’t listening. He was lifting me gently in his arms, sitting me up, peering into my eyes.

  “Can you hear me? Can you walk?”

  From behind him, a triumphant voice. “Ahhh and what do we have here, girls? Leila brought along a friend, how lovely.” Sarona stood surveying us, one hand on her hip, a delighted smile on her face as she eyed Daniel up and down, speculatively. “Hmm, nice one – look sisters – isn’t he delicious.”

  Daniel ignored her, helping me to struggle to my feet, supporting my frame with one arm, anxiously testing whether or not I could walk. I hurt everywhere and I was tempted to call a full body flame up because molten lava was impervious to pain. But I knew we had to get away from there. I had made a terrible mistake coming here with Daniel and I was in no position to take on all six telesā at once.

  “Daniel, let’s go. Quickly.”

  “How are you feeling? That was a huge knock you took just now.”

  I was eager to reassure him. “I’m fine. Honestly. I just really want to go. Can you help me to the car please? Now. We have to leave now.”

  “Oh, leaving so soon Leila? Aren’t you going to introduce us to your gorgeous friend? We are your family after all!” Sarona smirked at us and the others laughed from where they stood arrayed on the verandah.

  Daniel flushed and narrowed his eyes. I felt him tense and knew all too well what that signaled. His voice was hostile. “Are you Nafanua? Leila’s mother? Are you the one who did this to her?”

  Nafanua strolled out into the sunlight and regarded us with unreadable eyes. “No. I am Nafanua. And you must be Daniel. The boy my daughter has been pining over for so long. I thought maybe she had outgrown you, but I see that she is still very much enthralled with her childish infatuation.”

  Nervously, I tugged at Daniel’s arm, “Come on. Never mind that. Please just get me out of here.”

  His eyes were earnest as he refused. “No, Leila, I want to know who did this to you? This isn’t right – you could have been killed. And this woman is supposed to be your mother?” He turned and spoke to Nafanua. “I don’t understand. What kind of woman would treat her daughter this way? She came here asking you for help and this is what you do to her? I don’t know what’s going on here but you should be ashamed.”

  Nafanua arched an eyebrow. “Oh really? There’s a lot you don’t know. This? This is between me and my daughter. And I would advise you not to get in the middle of a family dispute. It could end … badly for you.”

  Daniel drew himself up to stand tall in the sunlight. Fire and steel burned in him as he replied, strong and defiant. “That’s where you’re wrong. I love Leila, and her happiness means everything to me. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I’m warning you, don’t ever try to hurt her again. I won’t let you.”

  There was silence at his words. I had never loved him more than I did at that moment. As he stared with uncompromising eyes at six women with the power to strike him down with a mere thought. I knew that both our lives were on the line and yet I had no fear. Standing there with my hand in his, my heart and soul woven with his, unbreakably.

  There was a slight softening in Nafanua’s eyes as she regarded us. Then a slight nod, as if acknowledging a good point. “Leila, well done. He is brave as well as handsome and the depth of his sincerity is endearing. But then, how much does he really know about you, hmm?” She walked down the verandah steps and began to slowly circle us, tapping a finger thoughtfully on her lips. “Daniel, has Leila told you what she is? What we all are? Hmm? Has she told you about the work she has done for us? Using her fire to destroy factories. Burn down a building here and there. Terrorize a few people. Hmm? Do you really know what your girlfriend is capable of? I wonder, would you still love her and stand against us so nobly for her if you knew how often she is tempted to set people on fire?”

  I caught my breath and hung my head in shame. Daniel’s grip on my hand tightened. “Say whatever you like. It doesn’t change anything. I told you, I love Leila. Nothing you do or say is going to keep us apart.”

  Sarona interrupted impatiently. “Oh really? Well, how about this?”

  This time I knew what was coming, but I still only had a moment to react, barely enough time to release Daniel’s hand and shove him away from me. “Daniel, move!”

  This time Sarona summoned lightning. Laughing gleefully as she gestured fiercely, as white light flashed and seared a line – directly down the center of where Daniel and I had stood. The smoking line of black separated us, mocking us both with its divisiveness. Daniel’s eyes were wide with horror as he sat on the grass where I had shoved him and stared from the lightning strike to the woman who had called it – and back again. I didn’t wait for another strike. I scrambled to my feet and ran to stand between Daniel and the women arraigned in front of the house that had once been my home.

  “No! No more. Please. He didn’t know what he was doing, what he was saying. He doesn’t know anything about any of you. Please just let him go. I was wrong, I made a mistake leaving the Covenant. I see that now. Let us go, give me the antidote for Jason and I’ll come back to the sisterhood. I’ll do whatever you want me to.”

  Sarona scoffed, “You are in no position to bargain with us you fool. What makes you think we would want you back? You have nothing we need.”

  My heart sank. I didn’t want to summon my fire in all its unpredictability and, no matter what Nafanua had done, I knew I wouldn’t be able to use it against her. But it looked like there would be no other way out of this. I tried not to let my fear show, but still my voice sounded frail in my ears, “I don’t want to hurt you, Sarona, any of you. Please don’t do this. Just let us go.”

  Sarona smiled. “Oh, it is not I who will be hurting today, little sister …” From far away in the forest I could hear a rushing sound, a wild wind building to a fierce crescendo, drawing nearer and nearer.

  “ENOUGH!” Nafanua interrupted, stilling the oncoming wind with a single gesture. She addressed the other women. “Leila has acknowledged that she made a mistake. She is willing to make reparation for it. All of us have made our own mistakes in the past,” she narrowed her eyes at Sarona “some graver than others. She is young and yes – she is foolish. But she is learning. And she is still our sister and potentially the greatest of us all. I, for one, am not willing to forsake the gift that she brings to our cause. What say you my sisters?”

  Each of the others nodded slowly. All except for Sarona, who merely shrugged dismissively. Nafanua turned back to us. Daniel had risen to his feet and now stood beside me. I longed to see if his eyes were those of the boy I loved – or of a stranger now that he knew the truth about me and my family. But I didn’t dare take my eyes off the women who confronted us. I steeled myself for Nafanua’s decision.

  “You and this boy will leave now. It will take me a few hours to prepare the antidote for the Professor. You will return at eight o’clock tonight for it. But listen well, Leila. We do not offer you this second chance lightly. When you return to us, you must be fully committed to our sisterhood. You will cut all ties to your old family and embrace your new one. You will pack your things, you will bid farewell to your uncle and aunt. You will take your leave of this boy, put an end to this relationship, and never see him again. Do you understand?”

  I nodded dumbly. What else could I do? I turned to leave but Daniel’s voice stopped
me. “Wait” he said tersely. He took a step forward and his question for Nafanua was challenging. “All that seems a pretty steep price to pay for some medicine that may or may not work.”

  Nafanua’s reply was lighthearted but there were daggers in her words. “You misunderstand me boy – Leila isn’t just paying for an antidote, she’s buying your life. And the lives of everyone in your family. The lives of her aunt and uncle. You see, Leila knows that we will kill anyone who opposes us. We’ve done it before and have no problems with doing it again.” She shook her head and waved us on our way with a careless hand. “Oh no, luckily for you, Leila’s just made a very good bargain.”

  With that, Nafanua turned and walked with the other telesā back up the steps, with Daniel staring after them. I tugged on his arm, desperate to get out of there. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  There were no words between us as he helped me into the passenger seat, as I tried not to show how much every movement hurt me. He must have known though, because he drove slowly back down the Aleisa mountain road, carefully avoiding all the potholes and bumps, giving me pensive looks every so often. I stared out the side window, unseeing of the scenery, my thoughts a shattered mess, Nafanua’s directives stampeding through my head. You will cut all ties with your family … end this relationship … say goodbye to this boy and never see him again. We will kill anyone who opposes us …