That's the main difference between the "malignant narcissist" and all the other 6 kinds, my friend. Both your sister and you are correct in labelling him as a covert AND a malignant. The malignant is the extreme pathology level of the covert type.

The malignant is not just "bad" like all the other types. It is EVIL, a human PREDATOR, very intentional in hunting their victims and causing harm. They feed on people’s suffering. They don’t feel remorse. Some experts like to call them the "Sadistic Psychopath".

For all the other six types, they don’t intentionally seek to harm. All that they crave is to nurture their ‘false’ sense of self and don’t care if this means hurting others within the process.

This being said, I am so very sorry for what you endured... Sending much love in your direction!