The Silence Before Her Storm

icker of confusion in his

ice called from the living room. "Jacob, honey,

, Jacob turned and walked awa

l performance for an audience of one. But their audience was no longer attentive. Alexia had grown insensible to

ty-fifth birthday party. Jacob threw a lavish event a

uzzed wit

im, he dot

utive, but he treat

im treat Alexia li

They were trying so hard to prove her love through jealousy, but all they were doing was killing it faster. Their affectio

nton flanked her. Jacob presented her with a brand-new sports car, the key dan

toward Alexia's corner, searching for the

sat quietly, her expression

smile faded. Their failure to p

ne, decided to take matters into her

going to wish me a happy b

for you," Alexia s

that I'm here." Her eyes scanned Alexia, then landed on the simple gold locket ar

d, her voice dripping with gre

tinctively flew t

whined, turning to Jacob, who had followe

cold mask. "Alexi

voice trembling for the first time th

is father's cruelty. "It's just a piece of meta

Alexia's voice cracke

um of conversation in the ballroom sputtered and died. A collective, sharp intake of breath was the only sound. Several guests stared, their ch

ed of them," he said,

her composure finally break

locket, trembled slightly. But the moment passed. The

ant to a triumphant Kassandra

ee, Mom? Dad love

, began to collapse, not with a crash, but with the slow, grinding sound of load-bearing walls giving way. This was no longer their p

she whispered. "Is

tally" let it slip from her fingers. It

r; it yielded with a dull, sickening sound that set one's teeth on edge, compressing and deforming beneath the stiletto's pressu

r last tangible connection to her mother. A strangled sob escaped her lips. She dropped t

grabbed her arm, pulling her up. "It's

dra away. "You di

o her palm, drawing blood. The physical pai

s grip like iron. "Apol