Telesa - The Covenant Keeper

by Lani Wendt Young

  - Nafanua? It’s me, Leila.

  - Where are you? You’re late. You were supposed to be here at eight to get the antidote. If you leave it too late it won’t work and Jason will die.

  - I’m not coming.

  - What do you mean? We had an agreement.

  - No, you made an offer, which I’m declining. I don’t want your antidote. And I’m not coming back to your sisterhood. I don’t want to be one of your telesā. I hope you can respect my decision.

  - You fool! You’re going to regret this a million times over before the week is out. Don’t you see, I am offering you the opportunity of a lifetime? To belong to the most powerful telesa sisterhood this land has ever known. To be a key part of the new Samoa.

  - You mean you offered me the chance to be a killer like you. And your insane sisterhood. You’re supposed to be my mother. Love me, care about me, want the best for me. Instead you try to kill my friend? And threaten the lives of the boy I love and the only real family I have?

  - Leila, listen to me, there is so much more you don’t understand, so much I can teach you, you cannot turn your back on me now.

  - No. You listen to me. I was lost for a little while, but now I’m clear. I know who I am. And what I’m not. I’m not your daughter. I’m not a psychopathic telesa killer like you and your sisters. I’m Michael Folger’s daughter. I can set this world on fire and I will use all my gifts to stop you and your sisters if you dare come near any of my friends or family again.

  When I pressed the cut-off button I was trembling and grateful for Daniel’s embrace as he came up quietly behind me. He cradled me in his arms. “So you did it. You made the break and threw down the gauntlet.”

  I shivered as I remembered the gleeful fury of Sarona’s attack that afternoon. “I hope I made the right choice. What if the antidote doesn’t work? What if they do it? What if they hurt you and Salamasina?”

  He shushed me with a soft kiss. “Hey, you made the only right choice available to you. Think about it. If you had gone back to them, they would have eventually used you to do far worse things. Can you imagine what kind of a weapon you would be in their hands if they could get you to join them? No, you couldn’t give in to them. We just need to wait now and trust that Mama’s medicine works. Then we’ll worry about tomorrow and what it brings, okay?” He bent to look direct into my eyes, “As long as we’re facing this together, we will be alright. I’m not afraid, as long as I have you.”

  I couldn’t argue with that. And so, even though fear still tiptoed with icy feet through my chest, I allowed Daniel to hug and kiss my worries away and we went back to the ward to sit and wait with Blaine and Matthew. For Jason to wake up. Or to die.

  

  I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, Blaine was shaking me awake. “Leila. Hey Leila!” His voice was urgent. Daniel and I were both slumped on the waiting bench, Daniel with his arms around me. We both jerked awake at the same time. “What is it? What’s wrong? Is it Jason?”

  “He’s waking up. Come see.”

  It was just past midnight. I leapt to my feet and rushed into Jason’s room, where several nurses were fussing over a very groggy but very awake Jason. My breath caught in my throat, “Jason?”

  In the midst of the buzzing medical team, he heard my voice. His head turned and his face lit with a pale smile – a mere ghost of the usual sunburst grin – but a smile nevertheless. “Leila? Boy, am I glad to see you.” He looked at the nurse taking his temperature and jerked his head at me, “See that gorgeous girl over there? That’s a face I never thought I would see again. Not in this lifetime anyway.”

  The nurse frowned warningly at him and then back at me. “Well you’re still not one hundred percent clear yet so don’t go getting all excited about that face. We need you calm and still and rested so we can get you better. And that means your visitors have got to leave.”

  Jason ignored her and reached out to me with a shaky hand. “Come here.”

  I moved to stand beside him and put my hand in his. He felt cold and I smiled at him with as much warmth and relief as I could muster. “I’m so glad you’re awake. We’ve all been so worried about you.” I tried not to cry. More than anything, Jason needed positivity and strength.

  “Don’t go yet. Seeing you is making me feel heaps better.” He appealed to the grouchy nurse. “Please let her stay a while. She lights up my world you know.”

  I grimaced at his attempt at a joke. But he wasn’t finished. “You should see her set things on fire with a single touch.”

  The nurse was not amused and pursed her lips in disapproval. “Setting you on fire is the last thing you need right now Mr. Williams. Your visitor will have to leave soon.” And with that she stalked away.

  “Jason, stop it. You shouldn’t be cracking jokes at a time like this.” I was painfully aware of Daniel’s looming presence just outside the door and tried to pull my hand back. But Jason’s grip tightened. He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it. There was nothing but seriousness in his blue eyes as he spoke to me softly, excluding the entire room.

  “I wasn’t joking. Leila, they tell me that I’ve been dying for the last three days. And trust me, I felt like it. But you know the one thing that kept me hanging on? The one thing I kept fighting for?”

  Dumbly, I shook my head, battling tears. He continued, “You. And my promise to you.”

  I shook my head, trying to cut him off, trying to stop the words before they couldn’t be unspoken. “Jason, no …”

  “No, please, let me finish. Let a critically ill dude speak. Please?”

  How could I argue with that? Especially since it was my fault he was lying there half dead anyway.

  “Leila, you asked me to be your friend. And nothing else. And I am. But nearly dying does something to a person y’know? It makes him realize that life is short. And you have to grab at every moment, every happiness with both hands. Tight. And not let go. So, yes, I’m your friend, and I’m one hundred percent committed to helping you deal with your problem. But you gotta know, I’m in love with you.”

  His words hit me with a hammer blow and I struggled for a way to make him take them back.

  “Jason no, you don’t know what you’re saying. You’re sick. You need to rest. Listen to your nurses.”

  But he would not be swayed from his declaration. “Leila, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my whole life. I’ve loved you from that first night you bewitched me with your fake bimbo-ness. And then when I watched over you as you slept during that storm, then I was sure.”

  And finally, with his declaration fully revealed, he was spent. A wave of exhaustion swept over him and he sank back into the pillows, closing his eyes. From behind me, I was dimly aware of Daniel slipping out of the room. The control-freak nurse chose that opportunity to jump in and shoo me away. “Out, out. He needs to sleep. All visitors must leave. NOW.”

  I backed away from the bed and Blaine and and Matthew followed me out. The two men were flushed with excitement and buzzing with plans to call and update Jason’s family.

  “He looks like he’s gonna be okay. Isn’t that awesome, Leila? I thought for sure this was going to be his last night on earth.” Blaine shook his head in wonderment and I smiled weakly at him but all my breath was focused at Daniel who stood still in the corridor with nothing but blankness on his face. Staring at me. As if I was a stranger he had never met before.

  The two men finally noticed him and their chatter died. We all stood in an uncomfortable silence for the briefest of moments before they both took off to Skype Jason’s dad the good news. Leaving me alone with Daniel. Who didn’t speak a word. Slowly, we walked back to the truck in the car park and still neither of us spoke. It was deserted, with only a few stray dogs sleeping in a huddle beside a rock wall. Daniel opened the passenger door for me but before I could climb in, he caught me still with his hand on mine. I stared up at him, trying to read him in the darkness, wishing he could read my heart and soul. A
nd see his face imprinted there.

  “So, the antidote worked.”

  “Yeah, it seems like it.” I fought unsuccessfully to keep the joy from my voice. But it was impossible. Jason was alive. We had thwarted Nafanua’s crazy attack on him. I didn’t kill him. I wanted to scream it from the rooftops. But I didn’t want to hurt Daniel.

  “I’m glad.” He spoke the words with simple sincerity. “I know he means a great deal to you.” He brought a hand up to cradle my face, looked me in the eyes and said again. “I’m glad.”

  I was weak with relief. He wasn’t mad. “Really? Even though … umm …” I hated to say the words. So he said them for me. With a knowing grin.

  “Even though the guy’s crazy in love with you? Yeah, I’m still glad the antidote worked. Now if he hadn’t been sitting on death’s doorstep? Let’s just say that I wouldn’t have been so patient about standing by and watching some genius Professor hold your hand and profess his love for you. Or kiss you. I might have given in to the temptation to smash him. Or something like that.” His dancing eyes laughed at me.

  I winced at the thought, and Daniel responded by pulling me closer to him and wrapping his arms around me. All teasing was gone as he said, “Seriously? I don’t like it that Jason is in love with you. But he can help you in ways that I can’t. And he’s your friend.’ He paused and looked at me questioningly, “That is all he is, right? Unless you do, have other feelings for him?”

  I hated the hint of doubt in his eye. I didn’t love Jason. At least not like that. Did I? My mind flashed back to the storm-filled night we had spent together. Jason half naked in Nafanua’s kitchen, resplendent in the firelight of my hands. How he had wanted to kiss me. And how I had wanted him to. NO! I slammed a door on my thoughts. I loved Daniel. He was looking at me, waiting for my response. Impulsively, I reached up and pulled his head down closer to mine and kissed him with every desperate emotion inspired by this rollercoaster twenty-four hours, trying to convey how much he meant to me. To show him that Jason really was only a friend. Trying to ignore the little voice inside that asked me, Who are you trying to convince here? Daniel? Or yourself?

  Daniel kissed me back with a fierce urgency I had never felt before, one that had me struggling for balance. In one fluid motion, he lifted me up so that I was sitting perched on the car seat with my legs linked around his waist. His mouth left mine and I moaned in protest, but it was so that he could burn a pathway of kisses down the arched curve of my neck. His mouth whispered fiery secrets against the base of my throat, his hands slid one loose strap of my singlet off one shoulder and then the other so he could kiss a trail of fire along my naked skin. My hands pushed away his shirt, hating anything that came between us, wishing I could incinerate the clothing that contained us both. But before I could act any further, Daniel pulled away, leaving me flushed and breathless.

  “Daniel?”

  “I’m sorry.” He gave me a rueful smile, carefully pulling my singlet back into place before disentangling himself from my embrace. “I ah … shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.” He ruffled his fingers through his hair in that nervous gesture I knew so well.

  “I’m not sorry.” I slipped off the seat and moved to take him in my arms again. He stood stiffly and did not hug me back. “I love you. All I want is to be with you. What’s wrong with that?”

  An awkward shrug. “Nothing. But what I said back at the house? About respecting you enough to not put your virtue in question? I meant it. Just now, that – us getting carried away – it won’t happen again. I promise. I’ll be more careful. You can trust me. Okay?”

  He waited for my response and seemed to think it would be a happy one, so I gave him a plastic smile and nodded. But inside I felt deflated as little bubbles of excitement fizzed and burst. I wanted him to get carried away with me. I wanted this to happen again and more of it. I wanted him to rip my clothes off and cover my entire body with his kisses. And here he was promising me that he never would?! Great. Sure, that’s totally what I want. To be able to trust you to not get turned on when you’re with me. Thanks.

  Unaware of my disappointment, Daniel continued, “We should get going. I need to take you home.” Without waiting for a reply, he unclasped my hands and went around to the driver’s seat. The drive home was quiet as we drove along empty streets. At home, Daniel opened my door and then stood and gazed down at me, his face unreadable. In the moonlight he looked tired. Drawn. But he tried to smile as he said, “Well, what a day huh? Nothin like almost getting fried by a psychotic weather witch to liven up your afternoon.”

  I nodded glumly, my excitement at Jason’s recovery was subdued now as I had to face the reality of what would come next. Of wondering what Nafanua and the telesa would do next. “Daniel, what are we going to do now? I mean Jason’s going to be okay and the sooner Blaine and them get him transported back to the US and away from the telesā the better. But where does that leave everyone else?” I looked over his shoulder into the house where I knew Matile and Tuala would be waiting up for me, worrying about me. “How am I going to watch over them? And your grandmother? And you? What are we going to do?”

  He quieted me with a quick hug. “I told you, everything will be okay. We’ve got tonight and tomorrow at least, until the telesa find out that Jason’s been healed. We’ll figure it out tomorrow. You need a good rest tonight – well what’s left of it anyway. I’m going to ask Mama for her advice. She’s the wisest person I know and she’ll help us find a way through this. Come round tomorrow, after church and we’ll deal with this. Okay?”

  It was difficult not to be soothed when six feet and two hundred pounds worth of muscle had you secure in his arms. I shut my eyes and breathed in deeply of his scent, memorizing the feel of every rock hard curve and sinew, treasuring his closeness, this feeling. Like together we really could take on the telesā. And win.

  He stood and watched me until I went in the house. And then from the window, I watched him drive away. Then and only then, did I go to explain wearily to Matile and Tuala why I was late – minus all the telesā bits of course. And once they were appeased, I tumbled into bed. Asleep before I could even remember that I was supposed to be scared. And worrying about a solution. A way out of this telesā nightmare.

  

  Daniel was right. Salamasina was a very wise woman and she probably would have been able to help us find a way to deal with the telesā. But our greatest mistake, which we would have much cause to bitterly regret, was thinking that we had time. To sleep. To talk. To plan. To prepare. To live.

  EIGHTEEN

  The next day began like any other Sunday. Tuala snapping at Kolio about the slack way he made the umu. Again. And Matile hurrying me awake to go check the state of the flowers in the church. Again. Just in case some nutty flower thief had absconded with the floral arrangements during the night. And then it was rush back to the house and get dressed. With Tuala yelling at the dog to Get out of the umu you stupid beast! And Matile scolding him for being mean to her dog. Again.

  But today I was grateful for the routine. The ordinariness of the day. It went a long way towards distracting me from the previous day’s horrors. In church, I secretly texted Blaine to check on Jason. And was thrilled to hear back that, yes, he was showing nothing but improvement. And the doctors had pronounced it safe for him to travel. And his parents were arriving that afternoon and would probably take him back with them on Monday night’s flight. I sang the final hymn with genuine gratitude and thanksgiving. Aleluia! Jason was alive. And by tomorrow he would be winging his way home to the States with his family and forever be safe from Nafanua and her sisters. The thought alone gave me hope that a similar solution could be found for me and Daniel. And all those we loved. Because it was true. I realized it as we drove home. As Tuala sang along with the radio and Matile groaned and rolled her eyes at him. And I hid a smile. I loved them both. In their home I had finally found the closest thing I had ever had to a family, the closest thing to regular parents.


  After lunch, Matile refused my offers to help with the dishes, instead waving me away, “You go have a rest before your dinner with Salamasina and Daniel. You were up late at the hospital last night. Go, sleep. Your uncle and I are going to afternoon church and won’t be back until late. You will have the house to yourself. Sleep and enjoy the peace. We will see you when you get back from your dinner outing.”

  In the bedroom, I sent a quick Sunday email update to Grandmother Folger. As usual, censoring out about ninety percent of my actual life here in Samoa. A wry grin as I pressed SEND. If she only knew the half of what was really happening here, the poor woman would probably have another stroke. And then send a team of Black Ops out to extract me. I checked my watch. Three o’clock. I had about an hour before it was time to go to Daniel’s. I hadn’t been planning on it, but Matile was right. I was tired. I grabbed myself a big glass of lemonade from the fridge before I went to the room. Drank. And slept.

  

  I awoke to a nightmare. Vision hazed, nausea threatened. I shook my head, trying to clear it of the cobwebs, the tangle of mist-laden vines that clogged it. I regretted it immediately. Another wave of nausea overwhelmed me and I leaned forward to retch. Jerking back as I swallowed water. I coughed and spluttered.