The Edge of Insanity | Rosalie Hale

Chapter 16: Crimson Eyes

Rosalie and Daniel were locked in a tense chess battle, Jasper offering playful coaching tips to Rosalie. Daniel, frustrated with the impending checkmate three moves away, was about to concede defeat by knocking over his king when Edward's arrival cut through the air.

"Daniel, I need you with me. Now," Edward demanded, his voice laced with urgency. He didn't wait for a response, turning on his heel and rushing out the door.

Daniel, startled by the sudden interruption, rose from his seat and followed Edward, confusion etched on his face. As they piled into Edward's car, a tense silence filled the space.

"The hell is going on, Edward?" Daniel finally broke the silence, his voice sharp with concern.

Edward hesitated for a moment, then slammed the car into gear, the engine roaring to life. They sped out of the driveway, Edward weaving through the streets like a mad man.

After several tense minutes, Edward spoke, his voice strained. "I needed to get us out of earshot. Alice had a vision of Bella... she's in danger. She's in Port Angeles, and a group of men are... they want to..." He faltered, unable to voice the horrific conclusion of his vision.

Daniel, understanding dawning on his face, interrupted. "I get it. That's why you want me to come." He glanced at Edward. "I know you sometimes hunt and kill this type of guys, without anyone else knowing. I've never said anything, but I need to get Bella to safety. And them, I don't really care what happens to them" he left the sentence hanging, a dark flicker swirling in his eyes.

The sleek silver Volvo roared down the rain-slicked highway, tires hissing against the asphalt. Inside, a storm brewed far more violent than the one outside. Every muscle in Daniel's body screamed with a urge as they neared Port Angeles. Edward slammed on the brakes a hair's breadth from where Bella stood, surrounded by a gaggle of leering, drunken men.

"Get in," Edward growled, his voice laced with a barely contained fury. His amber eyes locked with Bella's, an unspoken plea for her trust flashing across them.

Daniel surged forward, fueled by a potent cocktail of rage and something much darker.

"The hell do you think you're doing?" one of the men roared, his voice raw with barely suppressed violence. "We saw her first!"

Before Edward could respond, a primal terror flickered across the drunkards' faces. They dropped to their knees, whimpering apologies, the stench of their fear thick in the air.

Daniel felt a wave of nausea rising within him. Every one of these men brought back a horrifying specter – this guys resembled Royce, the sadistic monster who'd haunted his thoughts for years. For these men, Daniel felt no pity, no remorse.

With a snarl that sent shivers down Bella's spine, Daniel said to Edward "Get her out of here." before lashing out. His first move was swift and brutal – a single, practised motion that snapped the neck of the closest man. The others recoiled, their drunken bravado replaced by a sickening terror.

A dark, twisted laugh ripped from Daniel's throat. He revelled in the fear radiating from them, a sick pleasure coursing through his veins. The voices – those insidious whispers that had tormented him for years – were urging him on. He ignored their taunts at first, content to simply beat the next man to a pulp with a flurry of punches and kicks.

Then came the scent. The metallic tang of blood, a potent song to the monster lurking beneath his skin. It had been so long, he thought, justifying the rising hunger. A taste wouldn't hurt, would it? How many years had it been? Twenty? Thirty? It didn't matter. Just a single drop to quell the beast within.

He lunged at the next man, the feral hunger clouding his thoughts. In a flash, he tore the man's head from his body, the warm blood spilling down his throat. An unholy ecstasy washed over him, a primal urge he couldn't, wouldn't resist. He became a whirlwind of violence, each kill feeding the insatiable hunger within.

As the final body lay motionless, a chilling stillness descended. Daniel, his breath ragged and vision blurry, surveyed the carnage. He felt no remorse, no satisfaction – just a chilling emptiness that mirrored the vacant lot where the men had once stood. These were no more than scum to him, their blood staining the ground like spilled wine, as insignificant as the dust clinging to his boots.

With a flick of his wrist, he threw a lighter to the ground as flame erupted, consuming the pile of bodies in a hungry inferno. The stench of burning flesh filled the air. He reached for his phone, the dial tone a jarring counterpoint to the crackling fire.

"Is she alright?" he rasped into the receiver, his voice rough with exertion.

"She's fine," came the clipped reply.

That was all Daniel needed to hear, he looked up to the sky, crimson eyes now shining in his face. Relief washed over him. He didn't care for Bella, not at all. But he would be damned if he let someone go through what Rosalie had gone through. He would never forgive himself. A grim satisfaction flickered within him. He was glad he could help.

Author's note:

I don't know what last chapter was, and I kind of hate this one, but oh well.

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