Read Online The Heart of Two Worlds by Anne Plichota - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anne Plichota
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And what would you suggest, clever clogs?” she asked Pavel with a grin.
“Well, even though your Elixir of Betony is marvellous, I’d have to go for your phenomenal Fortifax Concentrate this time,” replied Pavel, his tone half serious, half playful. “We’ll need something strong to help us recover from the interminable night we’ve had.”
Agreeing with his choice, Dragomira rummaged around in the pockets of her voluminous grey wool dress and produced a tiny bottle. Then, walking around the table behind the Runaways, she added a few drops of opaque liquid to their bowls, making them pull faces and wrinkle their noses in disgust.
“I feel much better already!” exclaimed Oksa, her eyes shining.
“Your gran’s a real witch,” added Naftali.
And he wasn’t alone in thinking that. The weariness that had been etched on the Runaways’ faces a few seconds ago was visibly fading: an invigorating surge of energy flooded their veins. Feeling revived, Oksa took a thick slice of brioche, then examined her father opposite. The Fortifax Concentrate had smoothed away the dark rings under his eyes, but they were still full of anxiety.
Surreptitiously, Oksa turned to look at Tugdual. He’d clearly distanced himself by stuffing earphones in his ears and turning up the volume on his MP3 as high as it would go. He looked cold and unreachable and it upset Oksa to see him like that. She knew it was just an inscrutable facade. She was desperate to go over and snuggle up against him—just the thought of it made her head reel. She remembered Kukka’s scornful glance—she obviously thought she was just a stupid child and, what was worse, she might be right… And these feelings of uncertainty were chipping away at her confidence. For the first time in her life, Oksa felt unsure of herself. Her mind was seething with questions, even though she knew this was hardly the best time to be distracted by such matters. Although she didn’t regard herself as all that pretty, she knew she had a bubbly personality and was quite clever.
But so were a lot of people.
Looking at Kukka, she felt as though her best qualities were dull as ditchwater. What was happening to her? She was suddenly assailed by the fear that she might not be good enough and she came out in a cold sweat. She glanced again at Tugdual, who’d retreated into his own shell, and suddenly felt depressed. The seeds of doubt, which had been sown a few days ago, began to take root. Suddenly, as if he sensed her fears, Tugdual finally looked up. A slight frown creased his forehead and a look of concern darkened his steely eyes. The next minute, he reknotted his black scarf around his neck and his face resumed its aloof expression, leaving Oksa to struggle with her inner demons in front of Kukka, who was sardonically watching the scene.
Zoe was the first one to point out that the Bellangers weren’t there. At the mention of Gus’s name, Oksa jumped and blanched. She was a horrible person. She gnawed her lip until it bled, appalled that she’d forgotten her closest friend. She was just about to get up and find out how he was when the Bellangers burst into the mess room with Bodkin and Feng Li. Oksa was even more annoyed with herself when she saw how dreadful Gus looked—his skin had a greenish tinge and his eyes were wild. Even Tugdual seemed shocked at how much Gus had changed.
“Good Lord, what on earth is wrong with you, lad?” cried Dragomira, jumping up from her chair and going over to him.
“He’s seasick,” said Pierre. “Oksa’s already given him Abakum’s Brugmansia remedy.”
“I don’t feel seasick any more, Dad,” broke in Gus, holding his head.
He turned to Oksa. As if smudged by the brush of an evil painter, his eyes, which were usually so blue, looked like the bottom of a murky swamp.
“The remedy worked like a dream, Oksa, thank you,” he croaked. “It’s just this awful pain…”
He just had time to grab his mother’s arm to stop
“Well, even though your Elixir of Betony is marvellous, I’d have to go for your phenomenal Fortifax Concentrate this time,” replied Pavel, his tone half serious, half playful. “We’ll need something strong to help us recover from the interminable night we’ve had.”
Agreeing with his choice, Dragomira rummaged around in the pockets of her voluminous grey wool dress and produced a tiny bottle. Then, walking around the table behind the Runaways, she added a few drops of opaque liquid to their bowls, making them pull faces and wrinkle their noses in disgust.
“I feel much better already!” exclaimed Oksa, her eyes shining.
“Your gran’s a real witch,” added Naftali.
And he wasn’t alone in thinking that. The weariness that had been etched on the Runaways’ faces a few seconds ago was visibly fading: an invigorating surge of energy flooded their veins. Feeling revived, Oksa took a thick slice of brioche, then examined her father opposite. The Fortifax Concentrate had smoothed away the dark rings under his eyes, but they were still full of anxiety.
Surreptitiously, Oksa turned to look at Tugdual. He’d clearly distanced himself by stuffing earphones in his ears and turning up the volume on his MP3 as high as it would go. He looked cold and unreachable and it upset Oksa to see him like that. She knew it was just an inscrutable facade. She was desperate to go over and snuggle up against him—just the thought of it made her head reel. She remembered Kukka’s scornful glance—she obviously thought she was just a stupid child and, what was worse, she might be right… And these feelings of uncertainty were chipping away at her confidence. For the first time in her life, Oksa felt unsure of herself. Her mind was seething with questions, even though she knew this was hardly the best time to be distracted by such matters. Although she didn’t regard herself as all that pretty, she knew she had a bubbly personality and was quite clever.
But so were a lot of people.
Looking at Kukka, she felt as though her best qualities were dull as ditchwater. What was happening to her? She was suddenly assailed by the fear that she might not be good enough and she came out in a cold sweat. She glanced again at Tugdual, who’d retreated into his own shell, and suddenly felt depressed. The seeds of doubt, which had been sown a few days ago, began to take root. Suddenly, as if he sensed her fears, Tugdual finally looked up. A slight frown creased his forehead and a look of concern darkened his steely eyes. The next minute, he reknotted his black scarf around his neck and his face resumed its aloof expression, leaving Oksa to struggle with her inner demons in front of Kukka, who was sardonically watching the scene.
Zoe was the first one to point out that the Bellangers weren’t there. At the mention of Gus’s name, Oksa jumped and blanched. She was a horrible person. She gnawed her lip until it bled, appalled that she’d forgotten her closest friend. She was just about to get up and find out how he was when the Bellangers burst into the mess room with Bodkin and Feng Li. Oksa was even more annoyed with herself when she saw how dreadful Gus looked—his skin had a greenish tinge and his eyes were wild. Even Tugdual seemed shocked at how much Gus had changed.
“Good Lord, what on earth is wrong with you, lad?” cried Dragomira, jumping up from her chair and going over to him.
“He’s seasick,” said Pierre. “Oksa’s already given him Abakum’s Brugmansia remedy.”
“I don’t feel seasick any more, Dad,” broke in Gus, holding his head.
He turned to Oksa. As if smudged by the brush of an evil painter, his eyes, which were usually so blue, looked like the bottom of a murky swamp.
“The remedy worked like a dream, Oksa, thank you,” he croaked. “It’s just this awful pain…”
He just had time to grab his mother’s arm to stop
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