Cauldron Anthology - Whore | Page 56

She walked back to stand before her stepfather .
‘ I wish for the head of John the Baptist on a plate ,’ she said , voice ringing out as a knell .
Uproar . The guests roared , some in approval , some in dismay . Salome ’ s mother
curved her mouth in a cold smile . Her stepfather stared at her , before spinning round to
glare at his wife .
‘ Well , husband ?’ Mother shouted above the hubbub . ‘ Will you keep your word ?’
The king stood , pale as salt , unmoving , unspeaking . Then he nodded . He
beckoned a guard over and muttered something in his ear .
Within an hour , the executioner entered the feasting hall , bearing the head on a
plate , swimming in its own blood , and presented it to Salome with an ironical flourish .
She stared at it , at its drooping eyelids and lips , the glistening eyeballs , the ragged
beard , the greyish skin , and then vomited all over the floor .
Mother watched , sipping her wine with relish .
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