Her expression is bright with a strained smile as they exchange pleasantries, but this quickly melts away, like sunshine eclipsed by a cloud, when the moment comes for her to reveal what’s been weighing heavily on her mind.

She sucks in a mouthful of frigid air, momentarily speechless as her mismatched eyes drop away from Persephone’s gaze to stare, unfocused, at nothing in particular. In those moments, there is only the distant crash of the ocean and the scurrying sound of a small animal in the undergrowth to be heard, and despite these small sounds of normality, Arkana is dizzied by the task in front of her, which - in its enormity - might as well be a cliff she must throw herself over. Once she reveals her secret, nothing will be the same. She will no longer be just a girl. She will be leaving her childhood behind, and changing the dynamics of her family forever.

Arkana swallows against the dryness in her mouth, aware that the silence has crept on for too long. Her eyes dart to briefly meet Persephone’s in silent apology, but she cannot bring herself to say it. Just tell her! she screams at herself internally. Just rip off the burr!

“Well,” she finally begins, her voice wavering with nerves. “I was just wondering… when you were pregnant with Sabran and Ead… when did you know? What were your symptoms?” Inwardly she kicks herself for this roundabout method, but outwardly, she offers Persephone all the tell-tale signs: most importantly, a stricken, solemn stare, devoid of any of the easygoing curiosity that might have been present had she been asking this question out of genuine curiosity.

Her stomach cold as ice, Arkana waits to see whether Persephone will answer her question or pick up on her subtext first.