Telesa - The Covenant Keeper

by Lani Wendt Young

  I was so lost in thought that the abrupt halt of the Wrangler had me startled. I looked around. Daniel had pulled over in a sheltered dip in the winding road; we were nowhere near town. “What? Why are we stopping? We’re not home yet?”

  He turned the car off and took a deep breath before facing me. There was no warmth in his face. “First things first, are you alright? Should I take you to the hospital?”

  I shook my head, not trusting my emotions enough to voice them.

  “Are you sure?” His voice was tight and angry. “Damnit Leila! I need to know that I can trust you and, right now, I don’t even know if you’re telling me the truth about how badly hurt you are. Don’t lie to me. I’m sick of all the secrets. How bad are you?”

  I shrank back against his fury. This was a Daniel I wasn’t used to seeing. It was with a small voice that I replied, “I hurt. All over. Like I got trampled in a rugby ruck. I’m going to be black and blue everywhere tomorrow when the bruises start showing. But nothing’s broken. And it’s nothing that a doctor or a hospital can fix. And that’s the truth. I deserve this hurt anyway, I’ve made such a mess of things, people are dying because of me, people’s lives are in danger because of me, I deserve all the yelling and the anger that you’ve got to give me.”

  I turned away as I fought to contain the tears. Crying wouldn’t help anyone now. But in the next instant, Daniel had bridged the gaping distance between us and was enfolding me in his arms. His voice broke as he soothed me and held me, “I didn’t mean to shout at you. Shh, I’m sorry, here I am yelling at you and you’re in pain.”

  His every touch had me cringing and wincing. He backed away in confusion. “What is it? What’s wrong? You’re not afraid of me are you?! I wasn’t angry with you…”

  “No, it’s not you. It’s me – I want you to hug me, but it hurts. Ow!” I groaned as he jumped back away from me at my words. There was nothing but tenderness in his gaze as he leaned forward and held my face in his hands.

  “I’m sorry. I won’t touch you anymore. I’ll just touch the one part of you that isn’t bruised …” and with that, his lips met mine in a single delicate and fragile kiss that left me longing for more.

  But too quickly he moved away back to his side of the Wrangler, placing both hands on the steering wheel. “Leila, before we go any further, before we try and figure out how we’re going to deal with your psychotic mother and her sisters, I want you to tell me EVERYTHING.”

  I gulped. “Everything?”

  His eyes were stern. “Yes, everything. Start from the beginning. And don’t leave anything out. You owe me that much after today.”

  Glumly, I nodded. I couldn’t argue with that. And haltingly, I proceeded to tell him everything. How the heat flashes had started and then just kept worsening. The pool he already knew about. I told him about the nightmares I would have about Nafanua, even before I had ever met her. How it had felt to meet her that first time and realize I already knew her. I skimmed over the night we had first kissed and my fire had erupted since he had been there too, but at that part of the story, he reached forward and took my hand in his, raising it to his lips. “A night I will never forget …” he said with his crooked smile. Encouraged, I continued and as I recited my training, my time with Nafanua, her explanation of what telesa were and what their function was, her instructions that it would be too dangerous for me to love anyone, and my decision to end our friendship so I wouldn’t hurt him – his eyes darkened and his hand tightened on mine. I told him about being afraid of Nafanua but unsure of who else to trust, who else to turn to for answers and help with the truly frightening changes taking place in my body. My tension eased as I got to the part about the volcano and the night I had met Jason, our friendship and how I had accidentally revealed my powers to him. How I had then confided in him and he had embarked on his quest to try and help me. First by understanding my powers and testing their limitations. Finally, I came to the part about Nafanua and the telesa punishing the village, killing people, and burning their homes, which had led to our angry confrontation and my return to Matile and Tuala.

  It felt good to get it all out, to finally have all my secrets and fears out in the open. To know that at last nothing parted Daniel and I. When I was done, Daniel’s face was thoughtful as he stared out the window, but, thankfully, his grip on my hand had not loosened and I clung gratefully to that assurance that yes, he was still with me and on my side. Then after what seemed an eternity, he turned to me with a soft smile.

  “Thank you. For finally telling me the truth. I’m still mad at you for keeping so much stuff from me for so long – and I’m going to make you pay me back big-time for that one!” An almost sly smile at that, betrayed his teasing intentions and he leaned forward to capture my lips again. This time, the heat that flared between us was enough to send ripples of red energy fizzling through the cab and Daniel had to duck as sparks glanced off the side of his face, “Ouch!” Quickly, I backed away, deep breathing to calm my pulse and assert control before I blew us both up.

  “Sorry, sorry! Are you okay? I didn’t mean to do that, you just always make me want to explode.” I winced at the double meaning in the words, and he laughed the golden laugh that always made my world lighten.

  “Yeah, I tend to have that effect on girls everywhere.” Laughter aside, he turned serious again. “I’m fine, I’ve had worse from welding. Leila, I don’t want you going back to those women. You know you can’t. They’re just going to use you and your powers. Make you do stuff you don’t want to.”

  “But I have to. You heard them, not only is Jason going to die, but they’re going to go after my family next. And you. And your grandmother. I don’t have any other choice.” I shook my head. “No Daniel, there’s nothing else we can do.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Look, let’s take this one step at a time. The most important thing right now, is saving your friend. We can worry about the other stuff later. Let’s go. We don’t have much time. They said he’s got 48 hours left.” He started the Wrangler and reversed, efficient urgency in his every move.

  “Where are we going?” I longed to find hope, some kind of escape route from this nightmare, but I didn’t see any other way out.

  “My house.”

  I was still confused. “Why?”

  “Your mother’s not the only person who knows how to heal people with plants. We’re going to see my grandmother, ask her if she can help us.”

  That’s his brilliant plan?! The woman hates me! “Umm, I don’t think that’s a good idea, I don’t think that’s going to work.”

  But Daniel’s resolve was unshakeable as he sped down the mountain road, driving like Michael Andretti on crack. “Of course it will. Grandmother will know what antidote your friend needs and then you won’t have to give in to those psycho bitches.” He winced at me, “Sorry, I know one of them is your mother. Grandmother might be able to buy us some time to figure out what to do next.”

  I gave up arguing because I could see he was convinced his grandmother was my lifeline. I didn’t want to remind him that she had warned him to stay away from me because I would just bring him heartache. Pain. Trouble. I groaned and shut my eyes as I faced the truth of her prediction. Because here we were. Faced with heartache, pain, and trouble. The old woman had been right and I dreaded her reaction when Daniel asked her for help. Could this day get any worse? Remembering the coldness of her reception that long-ago day in her garden – I knew it could.

  SEVENTEEN

  If I could have my way, we would have driven forever. Away from here to the furthest reaches of the Mojave Desert. Or to the coldest wastelands of Siberia. Anywhere, just so long as we were together and out of reach of even the memory of telesa. But too soon, we were pulling into the driveway and parking beside the familiar weatherworn welding shop. Daniel’s movements were brisk and authoritative as he helped me out of the jeep and walked us into the house. He left me in the kitchen and went in search of his grandmother. “Mam
a? Where are you? Mama?” Still sore from the earlier encounter with Sarona, I gingerly sat down at the kitchen table and tried to steel myself for what I was sure would not be an easy meeting.

  I didn’t have long to wait. I could hear Daniel’s voice as he greeted his grandmother, and the next minute they walked into the kitchen. Clearly the old lady had been working in her garden as she came in still wearing muddy boots and with a laufala hat secured to her head with a colorful scarf. She looked worried and barely nodded at me as she made her way to the sink and hurriedly washed her hands, still talking to Daniel over her shoulder. “What is it son? What’s wrong? Are you in trouble? Tell me.”

  Daniel’s voice was patient and reassuring. “I’m alright, Mama. Please, just sit down so that Leila and I can explain. Please.”

  Unwillingly, Salamasina sat down, choosing the seat furthest from mine. I gave her a weak smile, which she ignored. Daniel sat beside me and took my hand in his underneath the table. I had never been so grateful to feel his hand in mine, and I clung to it gratefully as Salamasina turned glaring eyes at me. “What’s going on? Why is she here?”

  Daniel and I looked at each other, unsure which of us would speak first or where in this saga we should start. He was about to begin when suddenly, a look of horrified realization came over his grandmother’s face and she stood and launched into a fury of words – all in Samoan. Angry words tripping over each other and all directed at Daniel. I was lost. Bewildered, I looked from her to Daniel, and was even more confused when Daniel whooped gleefully and started laughing, shaking his head. “No, no, Mama. You’ve got it all wrong. It’s nothing like that. Mama!”

  Now both Salamasina and I were baffled as Daniel fought to contain his laughter. He reached over to give his grandmother a warm hug, which she accepted unwillingly, still speaking a hundred words a minute, none of which I could understand.

  “Umm, Daniel, what’s your grandmother saying? What is it?” I hated to interrupt them, but I was worried that if she got any angrier, she would self-destruct.

  Daniel laughed some more. “Mama thinks that we have come to tell her that you’re pregnant. And she’s angry with me and telling me off for being a disobedient son, a foolish boy who has not treated you with enough respect.”

  I was horrified. Waves of shame battered me. “Ohmigosh. No!” I appealed to her with frantic earnestness, “No, I’m not. It’s not possible. Me and Daniel, we’re not … umm … we haven’t …” my voice petered away as I wished I could just rip the earth open with a quake and sink into oblivion.

  Taking pity on my awkwardness, Daniel stopped laughing and spoke to Salamasina with calm sincerity. “Mama, I swear, that’s not it. I wouldn’t do that. Me and Leila, we love each other, but I would never go against what you and Papa have taught me.” It was as if the two of them were alone in the room as he shrugged and said simply, “Leila is my life. Her happiness means everything to me. I would never take her virtue from her.”

  There was silence. I stared at the floor, rendered speechless by the fervor of Daniel’s declaration. I had never heard of abstinence being equated with ‘virtue’ and respect before and the unexpected sweetness of its expression pierced me like nothing else. Suddenly, it hit me. There was so much more for me to learn of this boy who I loved, so much more for me to discover. And the thought that I may not have the chance to – because of my mother and her sisterhood of telesā – yanked the breath right out of my chest. Daniel was right. We could not give in to the telesā. Not without a fight. My eyes pricked with unshed tears as I looked up and smiled weakly at Daniel and Salamasina. The old woman spoke first and her tone was somewhat mollified.

  “Oh. I apologize for being quick to make assumptions, Leila. About my son and about you.”

  Daniel nudged her. “That’s okay, Mama. We’re sorry if we gave you a heart attack.”

  Salamasina’s tone was questioning. “But if that’s not the ‘serious matter’ you wanted to discuss with me, then what is it? What’s wrong?”

  Eager to change the embarrassing subject, I jumped in. “I was hoping that you could help with your medicines and natural healing remedies. My friend Jason is very sick in hospital. He’s dying and the doctors there don’t know what’s wrong with him. Could you please help him?”

  “Well of course I’ll try. But I’m not a miracle worker. What makes you think that I can find the answer if the doctors cannot?”

  I struggled to find the right words to answer her, but Daniel jumped in first. “Because we already know what’s wrong with him. He’s been poisoned.”

  Salamasina shook her head in disbelief. “With what? How do you know this? And why don’t you just tell the doctors?” Her eyes narrowed as she stared first at Daniel and then at me, sensing there was oh so much more to the tale. “Who did this? Who poisoned your friend?”

  There was no easy way to say it. “My mother. Nafanua.”

  I expected even more confusion but, instead, Salamasina faced me with an almost resigned look of awareness. Our eyes met and held. “Of course. This is all making sense now.” She didn’t even look at Daniel, just issued him with a curt request that expected no argument. “Daniel can you excuse us please? Leila and I are going to take a little walk in the garden. We need some time alone. To talk.” She stood and beckoned imperiously for me to follow her outside. I gave Daniel a helpless look.

  He rose to his feet uncertainly, “But Mama …”

  Salamasina silenced him with a weary smile. “My son, I know. This is the girl you love. Believe me when I tell you that I understand – there is nothing I can do or say to change that. Now Leila, come.”

  Together we walked into the garden. Evening was approaching. The kind that fell like gossamer silk, stardust and moon song making wispy trails from ocean to land. In spite of my apprehension about what Salamasina would say, the calm peace of the garden spoke to me as plants always did. Soothing my troubled soul. Calming my frightened heart. Salamasina walked to the furthest reach of the garden and stopped beside a luxuriant froth of jasmine bushes. I was still limping from my bruises and so she waited until I stood beside her before she spoke.

  “You are telesā.” There was no question in her statement. It seemed ridiculous to even try to deny it.

  “Yes. But how did you know?”

  She waved aside my question impatiently. “Did you drug my son?”

  “What?!” I was horrified.

  “You heard me. Did you drug my son, empotion him to love you?”

  “No. I would never do such a thing, to anyone. I met Daniel before … before I knew what I was, before I met Nafanua and learned about all this telesa madness. I loved him before and then when it happened, I tried to stop, I tried to push him away from me but it was too late. I already loved him so much.” My voice broke. “I’m so sorry, I tried to keep him away from me, truly I did. I never wanted to hurt him. I never wanted to hurt anyone. Please believe me. I love him and I would never do such a thing to him.”

  She stared impassively at my tears. “I had to ask. Telesā are users of men. You know this. They are incapable of love. Well,” she amended “most of them anyway. When Daniel first brought you home, I knew you were no ordinary girl. And when you told me who your mother was – well, that just confirmed it. I tried to warn him, tried to stop him forming a relationship with you, but it was futile. And I wondered if it was because you or Nafanua had been using telesā ways on him. I have been giving him my own protective remedies to drink to counteract anything, but still, I worried that Nafanua had managed to come up with some way of getting around my defenses.”

  I stared at her in shock. Who was this woman? And how did she know all this stuff? But I was not the one asking the questions here. Salamasina continued, “Now tell me, why has Nafanua poisoned your friend?”

  I ran through a quick summary of the past few weeks, giving Salamasina the bare bones of the story, telling her only that I had shared my telesā gifts with Jason and he had been trying to help me get
rid of them. Which had brought the wrath of the telesā upon him. And me.

  Salamasina gave me a wry smile, “You seriously think that there is a way for you to ‘cure’ being a telesā?” She rolled her eyes and shook her head at me, “Ah, the foolish ignorance of youth. This poor man Jason, he didn’t know what he was letting himself in for. Yes, I will help you with an antidote.”

  I wilted with relief at her words. “Oh thank you.”

  But there was no warmth in her next question. “But in return, you need to tell me everything. Starting with what kind of telesā are you?” There was steel in her words. “Are you matagi like your mother and the rest of her pack? Are you Air?”

  “No. I’m Earth. Fanua afi.” I stumbled over the pronunciation, but Salamasina understood me enough and her reaction was instant. A look of unbridled horror laced with fear and she stepped back away from me. As if afraid I would fry her right there and then. I cringed at her revulsion.