It dawned on me as I lifted the axe higher under the light to watch droplets of blood trickle on down my wrist and arm, that beacon of injustice that burned so brightly within me had only been a red-hot stake for a madwoman. “N-No…” I started to sway my head from left to right, and my many words of denial started to obstruct my thirsty throat. “N-No!” I hollered out in fury, my bloodshot eyes alongside my silvery locks managed to curdle the blood of the young executioner that stood before me. “Yes… you slaughtered her… your own mother, Milady…” The executioner pointed a trembling finger at me, his beady eyes and high cheekbones were outlined by the shadows and moonlight that draped him. “It can’t be… that you have forgotten? Lady Isabel?” The executioner spoke from under the hood of his red velvet cloak, and his black hair embalmed his grim face in sweat, a craze within his quivering frown that threatened to stay a grin. “N-No! All of you… It wasn’t me! I was forced to- she wanted to replace me!” I started to murmur then bark out words which were frowned upon by the audience of commonfolk. “Slay her!” The crowds of people started to cheer for my death. The stolen axe in my hand was reached for by my crazed executioner, I staggered as I swung the heavy axe to shield myself from his deathly claws. “M-Mother…” I started to recall the memories of her, and our last moments together. How she’d wanted to marry me off to that odious man called King… with that look of no sympathy etched into her face. I’d worshipped my mother since birth, and never left her side for a moment of love which she never had spared. “I… didn’t mean it!” I swung the axe, again, and the executioner winced merely dodging it by an inch. “She… killed me.” I pointed the axe to my impending slayer, then to the strangers that wished death upon me. “She… killed me… with her words!” I beseeched, and tears ran down my cheeks, as I clung to the handle of the axe whilst my heart splintered into pieces. “I was… merely a vengeful ghost…” I held the axe to my chest, and cried silently as people stared on. “Death… shall only free you.” The executioner lunged at me, and gripped onto the axe to haul it out of my clasp. And, with a single swing of the axe… I was dead.