She danced for him. The only sound in the room was the patting of her feet and the steady staccato of her of her heart.

The sweat trickled down between her breasts. The hair on her forehead stuck with sweat. Her breathing was harsh but steady. She slowly circled the room. Her long skirt softly swooshed, the smoke from the incense lamp entwining about her body. It's murky fragrance veiled her darkly lined eyes.

The kings eyes filled with lust and want. He wanted her and he would have her she knew. It was inevitable. She was young, only about the age of a fruit bearing tree. She knew that she was to be given to him tonight. This was the night that he would pluck her just as the ripe peach is taken.

She danced for him. Her lithe and nubile body dipping and swaying. Her steps becoming sharper and faster. Her long and flowing hair glistened in the light. Her body dipping and bouncing and her young breasts swaying in front of his eyes. As she finished her frenzied dancing and lay heavily at his feet, drained and naked she heard his low growl.

"What is it you so want, my child?" he asked in a breathless voice.

Her mind did not hesitate. Her eyes narrowed at the thought of the man who had refused her. "I want the head of John The Baptist."

Her Uncle, the King chuckled. He was killing two birds with one stone tonight. He would get rid of the heretic John and he would get to have his wife's niece in his bed. As the order was given and his messenger rushed for the unpleasant task to be done his hands caressed the young girl before him.

Waiting for the news of the man's death she allowed The King to stroke her. His touch was rough and his grasp greedy. He followed the trails of sweat between her breast and it tickled.

She scrambled from the bedclothes of the King when she heard the messenger's footsteps. He carried a basket and inside of it was her enemy.

She eagerly stared upon the face of the baptizer. The visage of the man looked stoic as though determined even in death to resist her. She eagerly gazed upon his handsome face and deliberately she set her lips to his.

"You fool," she said contemptuously to the severed head. "if only you hadn't refused me." Then Herod awoke from his satisfied stupor and said "well, there is your prize. Now come show me how pleased you are."

Slowly she stood up her long hair cascading down her body and walked slowly away from the King. As she stood at the edge of the balcony she smiled at the thought of John the Baptist. "Maybe I shall see him in Hell" she mused as she plummeted to the hard packed earth below.