The silence between Malia and Nixus was palpable, hanging in the air like a heavy fog. They were sitting across from each other at a small table in Malia's apartment, the soft hum of the city below doing little to drown out the tension that had settled in the room. It had been hours since their confrontation with Selene, and even though the immediate threat had been dealt with, the real battle was still raging within Malia.
Nixus had insisted on staying with her that night, to make sure she was safe, to comfort her, and to try to convince her that everything was going to be okay. But Malia wasn't sure if she could trust any of his reassurances anymore. How could she, when the specter of Selene still loomed so large in their lives?
