Jasper's POV

I sat across Alice, watching as her unfocused eyes fluttered; she had just seen something, and Edward was by her side before I could even lean forward.

He knelt, one hand on his knee, head turned up at Alice with pleading eyes. "Please…" he spoke softly, "tell me what you saw…"

It was not normal for Edward to ask, since he could usually read her thoughts, but for the past forty years Edward's powers had dulled, and his looks unraveled along with it. His Greek God-like stature was still noticeable, but hidden beneath something. Sallow eyes that always looked robbed of sleep (ironically), and hunched posture; he was a ghost of a vampire, just drifting along with his pack. No direction in mind and no will to survive.

We had to beg him to hunt.

The only thing that sustained him in this decrepit state was the thought that Bella might still be alive. A month ago Alice had seen a vision of Bella standing at an altar in a wedding dress, with no one beside her. Edward worried that this meant something; that he'd abandoned his 'precious Bella' to be an old spinster, and ever since he'd been hounding Alice for more visions.

What Alice hadn't told him, however, was that Bella looked the same as she did when we left Forks 40 years ago.

Alice's eyes flickered up to me before responding to Edward, and I knew that it had been Bella again.

"What was it this time?" I sighed, without asking my brother to leave the room. It was too much work keeping a secret like that from the world's most depressed vampire. Even bloodsuckers can have puppy eyes.

And his hit home.

Alice stuttered, seeming unsure, but spoke quietly with her head bowed. Was it something bad?

"I saw Bella again. Edward…," Alice turned to face him, and the look in her eyes made me snap out of my chair. I rushed to her side, and bent down to meet Edward's eye level. With one arm over Alice's shoulders, I whispered in her ear, "Shh, it's alright. We can tell him later."

But Edward growled fiercely and tore away from us. With unbelievable fury, he punched a clean hole through the wall behind him. "NO!" Edward shouted, "YOU ARE GOING TO TELL ME NOW!"

His whole body was shaking, and Alice was seized with fear. So, I did what I could, and suddenly the room fell quiet.

I smiled politely in Edward's direction, knowing that he would respond.

"Jasper, can't I ever be angry around you?" He said hoarsely, turning around with a sad smile.

"Edward I think there's something wrong with her."

Alice shattered my attempts at lowering the emotions in the room with her single, curt sentence. She stood, face stoic, and took my hand steadily. "The last time I saw her was forty years ago, and she was choking—,"

"No! Alice!"

I pulled her face suddenly into my chest, half attempting to muffle her and half attempting to shield her from Edward's wrath. He hadn't known; Carlisle instructed us not to tell him, for fear that Edward would really miff the Volturi this time. Alice shuddered into my chest, her shoulders jerking with a dry sob, as Edward's entire body tensed.

"What?" He said in a low, menacing voice. Even I couldn't think straight enough to calm his emotions.

And then Edward took a step forward, his fangs growing out of his mouth and his eyes flushing blood red. "What did you say?"

"Edward don't," I tried to warn him, but my voice was shaky. Despite the fact that Edward had deteriorated over time, his fierceness had grown. In his vampiric state no one dared cross his path. He was the loose cannon of the pack, and we did all we could to protect his rage.

But everyone slipped. Alice forgot. It was not her fault, and I wouldn't let Edward take it out on her. He almost tore Emmett to shreds seven years ago when he wouldn't let Edward go back to Forks for Charlie's funeral.

"Let her go," Edward spat, "and don't try any of your calming bullshit on me. I'm in no mood, Jasper. Just let her go. I want to know what the hell you're keeping from me, and why the hell I didn't find out earlier."

He was referring to the mind reading, I assumed, but Edward hadn't noticed his own powers deteriorating (as they had the second he left Bella in Forks), so it was unnaturally easy to hide something from him.

Tentatively, I released my hold on Alice's shivering body, letting her regain composure before entirely pulling away.

She breathed evenly, and then looked Edward dead in the eye. Her body became statue-like and her eyes turned to coal.

"Forty years ago I saw a vision, and I was instructed – we were instructed not to tell you about it. It was Bella, and she was choking. Then the next week I saw another vision of the headlines in the local Forks newspaper. Local girl Bella Swan dies from asphyxiation due to heat."

Alice paused, her eyes softening a bit, "Due to heat, Edward? How was I supposed to believe that?"

Edward growled, his fists curled into menacing weapons and his body shaking violently. I expected him to yell and scream, but his towering quiet visage frightened me more.

And then it came like a storm.

He screamed, a raw and guttural cry of pain, and tore through the wall. Then he moved to whatever furniture was near, and flipped it over, snapped it in two, and threw it across the room. Alice started to yell, begging him to stop and to calm down.

I couldn't think. I couldn't concentrate.

"EDWARD I'M SORRY! IT'S BEEN FORTY YEARS AND YOU'VE BEEN FINE!" Alice screeched.

This was the wrong thing to say, I already knew.

Edward dropped the piano that he was about to throw towards the only undamaged wall, and rounded on Alice's trembling frame. I tried to jump out and protect her but Edward shoved me violently aside.

"Fine?" He hissed, "Is that what you think I've been? Fine?! The only reason I didn't blow myself up is because I thought Bella to be alive, Alice! Can you understand that?! ALIVE!"

Just say it Alice, I thought vehemently, just tell Edward we think Bella is still alive!

Alice's lip quivered, and then she let out a dry sob and turned away, running out of the destroyed room.

"I…" my voice faltered, knowing that I should run after Alice but unsure of leaving Edward in this state.

"Just get out," Edward growled, his back turned to me and his hands still clenched in fists.

I did leave, but instead of finding Alice first I went directly to Carlisle. Edward's safety was now our top priority.

From himself.

( A/N: There's a little JasperxAlice in there, for any fans, but I made this chapter extra long so you could understand where Edward was coming from, but still not through his eyes. I want to leave some of his feelings and thoughts a mystery, and Jasper is the ideal character to offer the Cullen side of the story. I hope you liked this chapter, and please, if you like what you read then review! Nothing makes me happier than the wonderful things you guys say. Honestly. )