The Edge of Insanity | Rosalie Hale

Chapter 25: The Storm

Daniel sat on the floor of Emmett's room, back to the wall, fingers tightly interlocked. He stared straight ahead — not at the room, not at anything. Just... through.

Emmett was sprawled across the bed, tossing a massive steel dumbbell—easily over 500 pounds—into the air and catching it like a tennis ball. His eyes stayed on Daniel between each catch.

"You gonna tell me what that was at school today?" Emmett finally said, letting the dumbbell fall to the bed.

Daniel didn't answer.

"I mean, yeah, the guy was a jackass, but you nearly tore him in half. Not exactly a proportional response."

Still no answer.

Then Daniel exhaled — a long, uneven breath. "It wasn't about him."

Emmett sat up. "Yeah. Figured."

Daniel leaned his head back against the wall, eyes closed now. "When he said that... when he talked about Rosalie like that... I saw red. I wanted to make him afraid. I wanted him to suffer."

Emmett said nothing.

Daniel's voice went lower. "And the worst part is... it felt familiar. Like muscle memory."

"You're talking about the Volturi," Emmett said.

Daniel nodded once. "And the war. The first one. I was a kid when I died, but I saw more death before that than most people witness in their lifetime. After my father turned me, it was like he sharpened what the trenches left behind."

His jaw tightened. "Then the Volturi, the missions, the executions... I was their weapon. Fast. Precise. I didn't hesitate."

"And killing James brought it all back," Emmett said quietly.

Daniel opened his eyes, and for a moment, they looked older than they should have — decades of guilt swimming beneath the surface. "I've been off ever since. Today, when I stood up at the cafeteria, it wasn't just about defending Rosalie. It was like something cracked. I wanted everyone to know what I could do. And I didn't care who saw."

"That's not who you are anymore."

Daniel shook his head. "Then why did it feel so easy?"

Daniel looked down at his hands. "I don't think I ever came back from it. From the war. From the Volturi. From any of it. I just... locked everything away."

"But you're trying now," Emmett said. "That's what matters."

Daniel gave a tired laugh. "Rosalie had to talk me down. In a room full of people. I almost tore that guy apart in front of everyone."

"Yeah," Emmett said. "But you didn't. And even if you had tried — we'd have stopped you." After a beat, he added, "You know I've got you—always."

Daniel didn't respond. But Emmett didn't need him to.

Alice's voice floated up from downstairs. "Go to your rooms and get ready! We're not stalling this birthday forever!"

Emmett stood, brushing off his jeans, and extended a hand.

Daniel hesitated.

Then took it.

Emmett hauled him up with one firm yank. "Come on, soldier. You've got a party to survive."

Daniel gave a tight nod. But under the surface, the storm hadn't passed.

It had only been delayed.

A few moments later, Rosalie watched him carefully from the doorway of their room. Daniel sat in a low armchair, his fingers steepled under his chin, unmoving but tense. His eyes—so dark they bordered on black—were fixed on the floor.