Her scarlet lips grazed the flawless surface of the apple. There was the unmistakeable crunch of teeth sinking into the juicy flesh. Snow White's perfect jaw grinded the apple's flesh with a rhythmic movement. Her neck bobbed with the movement of swallowing. Within seconds, her almond eyes fluttered.

"Oh," She gasped softly. Her body swayed. "I feel…faint."

With a thump, Snow White's body hit the ground in deep sleep, her chest rising and falling so softly it could hardly been seen. Her hand lay limp against the wooden floor, the rosy red apple rolled from her grasp.

I cackled triumphantly. "Dead!" I cried and I stomped by feet against the floor. I raised my hands in victory over my head. "She's dead!" I laughed so hard I doubled over, my ribs aching. I felt as if my lungs were about to burst, my whole body started to hurt from racking with my laughter. As brittle and feeble I appeared and felt, I ignored every stab of pain and continued rejoicing.

Still blathering, I could have celebrated until the next morning but, however, I heard the fast storming of hooves and feet. I froze like a statue and listened. From the cries of war, I realised that Snow White's little dwarves were approaching quickly.

I hurried outside, panicking. Ignoring the over casting clouds, I clambered over flowers and tall blades of grass while attempting to hide around the back of the cottage; there was no way I could have escaped. I tucked myself between the branches of a rosemary bush and listened to the horrified cries and the outbreak of sobs as the seven dwarves discovered the 'corpse' of Snow White. Of course, I was fully aware that she was not dead but only in a deep sleep that only true loves kiss can awaken her from. However, the old fools would never know that. They wept and mourned for the loss of their new housemaid. The child so beautiful and so kind that she was loved by all was now dead, gone from this world. Before long, she would be buried deep into the ground to rot and starve while dreaming of her fair prince's arrival that would never come. Snow White was officially dead and I was now the fairest in the land.

Silently, I crept closer to the window in attempt to see their sad little faces. How petty, crying over the death of a fourteen year old. They all had taken off their pathetic hats in honour of the dead girl; tears were now dampening their silver beards. They tiny frames racked with sobs, they covered their eyes with their filthy hands.

It took all of my willpower to stifle my giggles.

The sky seemed to cry too; rain fell from the sky harshly and soaked me to the skin. Lightening lit up the sky from the dark clouds; thunder deafened the sound of crying birds. The dwarves lit candles to give them light.

"Put her upstairs, men." Ordered a dwarf with glasses. "Lay her on a bed, so it looks like she's just sleeping."

Slowly, the seven dwarves all helped lift Snow White from the cold floorboards and up the stairs. Within moments, they all returned and sat around their miniscule table. They cried some more, a few even drying their tears with their beards. One of them slammed his head against the table, his shoulders jerking as he wept.

I stifled a scoff; were they seriously weeping over someone so unworthy of it?

"What should we do with her?" A plump dwarf questioned as he gazed sullenly at the table. The others glanced at each other, their sad little eyes echoing the question.

"We should bury her." One replied. "Give her a proper funeral."

"No!" Cried one dwarf as he lifted his head from the table. "We can't bury a pretty face like that."

"But we can't leave her upstairs, Grumpy." Replied the plump dwarf.

"I know," Retorted Grumpy. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "We shouldn't bury her in the ground. We should leave her up on the land, in a glass coffin. Close to the sky, close to the flowers, you know? And if anyone passes by, they will see the prettiest lady ever and can share our tears, knowing that a pure heart has been wasted."

My heart almost stopped. They weren't going to bury her but leave her on the ground, in a glass coffin where people can see her! What if that prince she was courting with rides by and sees her? Could he awaken her with true loves kiss? I almost screamed as I slumped myself against the stone wall of the cottage. Those imbecilic dwarves were mindlessly ruining my plans!

"There must be a way…" I muttered to myself. I stroked my chin with my finger, only to feel it to be smooth. I glanced at my hands. They were no longer wrinkly. I pulled down my hood and inspected a lock of my hair. It had returned to its former jet black. I suddenly felt more energised, less old and frail. I was young and beautiful again.

"Another way…" I repeated to myself inaudibly. I glanced up above my head; there was an open window to the second floor. Instinctively, I reached into my cloak and pulled out a small silver dagger. I wasn't much but it would be enough to do the job.

Roughly, I bit onto the side of the blade and held the dagger with my mouth. I stood slowly, careful not to arouse the dwarves' attention. I dug my fine nails into the mossy gaps between the cobbled stones of the wall. Madly, I hoisted myself up and started scaling the wall; I had to get to Snow White.

Before long, my fingers started to ache and my knees were badly scraped. I clenched my jaw, tightening my grasp on the dagger. I raised my hand and grabbed the window pane. My nails dug into the smooth wood as I pulled myself up, kicking my feet against the wall and I threw my torso over the ledge. Half of my was inside; only my waist and legs hung from the window. I grabbed onto the post of the near bed and pulled myself forward. I brought one leg in to hold myself up and then brought the other in; I was finally inside the cottage.

I tore the dagger from jaw, clenching it tightly around the metal handle. The 'corpse' of Snow White was laid out on a bed, a white sheet thrown over her. I crept towards her, my hands trembling with excitement. I was almost there.

I reached out my hand to pull back the covers. My fingers were stained with dirt, my nails now broken; small cuts were dotted around my palm. My nostrils flared; I was about to be the fairest of them all. The sheet was in my grasp; I flung it over my head and behind me to reveal the cold body of Snow White. I felt her bare arm; she was as cold as stone. A satisfied grin crossed my face. I gripped the dagger tightly and raised it high above my head.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall," I whispered. I leaned forward, near Snow White's ears. I grinned insanely, my eyes wide with power. "Now who's fairest of them all?"

I stood up tall, my dagger aimed. With a thrilling flip of my stomach, I plunged my dagger downwards and into Snow White's chest, piercing her heart. Blood oozed from the wound and dripped over the navy fabric of her corset. I pressed the dagger harder, enjoying the sight of Snow White's dripping blood. It stained my hands; I didn't care. She was dying and I was living.

I pressed the dagger harder, wishing for it to drain out every single last drop of blood. …

The sheets were stained crimson, the front of my black robes soaked. I wondered how better it would have been if I could have seen the life drain from Snow White's almond eyes.

I removed the dagger only to lift it up higher and then spear it through her bare throat.

More blood poured from the hole in her neck, her veins pumped out the scarlet liquid that kept her alive. Drops of it slowly seeped from her lips. I couldn't help but think how it matched the same colour of her lips.

Removing my pale hand from the stained dagger, I glanced triumphantly at the corpse of Snow White. Grinning, I leapt from the window and down to the ground. Knowing that Snow White was now bleeding to death, I happily walked all the way back to my castle, allowing the rain to clean me of her innocent blood. I stripped myself of my clothing and swam the moat, entering the marble palace via my secret entrance. I dressed myself in my usual royal robes and headed towards my beloved mirror.

"Mirror, mirror, on the wall."

The image of Snow White bathed in her own blood, her dark tresses tainted with scarlet, her pale skin stained crimson, flashed across my mind.

"Who is the fairest of them all?"

I could only imagine the horror on the faces of the seven dwarves when they will discover Snow White. Her blood would stain those sheets and flooring forever. The memory of her will haunt the cottage. Her corpse would forever be tainted with blood, no matter how hard they may attempt to wash it away.

My darling mirror stared at me with hollow eyes; no emotion crossed his green face. Truthfully, he answered me with the very words I desired and craved for so long:

Oh you, my queen, are the fairest of them all.

And with that, I laughed.