5

I nodded, still smiling, before turning to face the rest of my audience. My stepfather sat at his banquet table, all sorts of delicious foods laid out before him, but he observed only me. Even my mother, who sat at his elbow, was ignored once I had entered the tent. I waved coyly to him in a most impudent manner, infuriating Eema, before turning to look at the musicians that were gathered in the far eastern corner.

"Play my song," I instructed.

And then I began.

It is futile to try and put such artistry and eroticism into words. I cannot describe what I did, I can only do it. The expressions of my audience spoke volumes as they watched me perform, slowly removing my clothing to the seductive rhythm of the music. Eema observed me, as she always had when I worked, and as usual she was the sole person in the tent to note my mistakes rather than my sensuality. Well, I thought to myself, not the only one this time. There was Johanan, after all. But I resisted seeking out what I truly desired, to see our prisoner's reaction to it all.

As I stripped down to the last of my flimsy layers, I could feel the heat of my own aphrodisia rising up within me, in addition to the warmth exerted by my deliberate movements. Something else was coming alive within me, a hope. In spite of myself, my eyes drifted over to Johanan.

He was looking at me after all. I saw his Adam's apple bob in his throat as he swallowed hard, beads of sweat dripping from his temples, his lips slightly parted. I glanced further down. His arousal, like everyone else's, was obvious. He had lost the battle to his body and succumbed to my charms in spite of himself.

I plucked off my last veil, wrapping it around Herod's thick neck, and then I was nude, but only for a brief moment. All the men wore a stupefied expression as I collapsed to the floor, bowing deep before my stepfather, subtly gasping for breath as my body gleamed with perspiration.

As I lay prone, I once more looked to Johanan. His eyes were closed now, and his mouth was moving as he spoke silently to himself.

Tamar was quick to bring me a robe, which she draped over my naked form, much to the chagrin of all present.

I stood up slowly, bowing low, but was careful to make sure my body was covered despite my previous unveiling. There was a thunderous applause for me, as well as whooping and whistling, which I wholly ignored in favour of tilting my head back to peek at Johanan. He had opened his eyes again and sat with defeat plainly etched across his face.

Tamar attempted to steer me away by my shoulders. I spoke to Johanan as I passed him.

"I see you enjoyed yourself."

But any traces of his tumescence had disappeared. "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain," was all he said to me.

My smile faded.

I shoved Tamar off me as we exited the dining tent and went back alone into my quarters. I knocked trinkets off my tables, hurling one onto my looking glass (which shattered), before going and throwing the clothing from my trunk, strewing it about my tent. As everything came down around me, I screamed on the heels of my hands in frustration.