In Paris 1723

[1.9]

"It would only make people ask more questions, if anything, it would make this whole situation worse," Emmett added on.

Edward countered, continuing his side of the argument with a ferocity that I hadn't seen in him before. I knew, however, that he was only willing to split from the family in hopes of keeping the girl alive.

Rose's hand slapped against the coffee table with a sharp bang, the wooden in the table cracking slightly with the force of it. "We cannot allow this human a chance to say anything. Carlisle, you must see this. I mean even if we all do disappear, it isn't safe to leave stories, leave rumors, swirling behind us. We already have more eyes on us than we normally would due to the way that we live, and you know that there are plenty of people who would love to use this as an excuse to point fingers. We have to be more careful than anyone else!"

Edward scoffed as he looked at Rose, "we've left rumors behind us before."

"Just rumors and suspicions, Edward. Never eyewitness and evidence!"

He scoffed as he shook her words off. "Evidence?!"

Carlisle looked at his two children, obviously trying to find a way to ease the tension. Not that they were making it easy for him, though, the two continuing to verbally attack each other any chance they could. "Rose-"

"No! Let me finish," she cut in, "it doesn't even have to be a huge production. She hit her head today, maybe that injury was more serious than originally expected."

Edward looked at her with wide eyes, his mouth agape as he tried to form words to counter her plan. A plan that Jasper seemed to be already on board with.

"The others would expect us to clean up after ourselves. Which technically would make it Edward's job, but obviously he isn't capable of doing that! You know that I'm capable of maintaining control. I wouldn't leave any evidence behind." She turned towards Carlisle, who just sighed as he rubbed his head, still trying to find a way to pacify the situation.

"Oh, sure! Because we all know how proficient of an assassin you are," Edward growled, scoffing as he watched her hiss furiously at him. Obviously, hinting at her past.

"She should have died, Edward," I speak up, "it would only set everything right... there are too many... loose ends if we don't do this. There's too big a risk... for us all, surely you see that."

"I. Won't. Allow. It." He glances in my direction, emphasizing each word as if it will magically, somehow, change my mind, change all of our minds.

Jasper stood forward slightly, his hand still intertwined with Alice, whose mind was someplace far away. "I won't let Alice live in danger, even if it's only a slight danger. You don't feel about anyone the way that I feel about her, trust me, I would be the first to know. You haven't lived through what I lived through, regardless of if you've seen my memories or not. You don't understand."

Edward sighed as he leaned back against the couch, tiredly crossing his arms, not wanting to fight any of us. "I'm not disputing that Jasper. But I'm telling you that I won't allow you to hurt Isabella Swan. I won't allow for either of you to hurt her." He glances between Jasper and Theo, knowing what the two are planning together.

The three of them stared at each other, measuring each other up, pinpointing weaknesses and strengths, just in case. Jasper's eyes narrowed as he tensed, his unwavering glaze breaking only to look over at Theo. The two of them silently conversed through their eyes, causing us all, Edward included, to look at them in anticipation, not knowing what their conversation included.

"Jazz," Alice gently squeezed his hand, causing him to immediately look over at her in concern.

"Don't even bother telling me that you can protect yourself, Alice. I already know that. I still have to-"