"That's it!" fumed Salazar. "I've had it with you, all three of you!" He whirled around and started to stomp away angrily.
"Sal, wait!" cried Helga. She ran after him and caught his arm. "Sal--"
Salazar whipped around. All Helga had time to register was the expression on his face. His face was twisted into an angry, almost demonic scowl, hard lines etched into steel. There was cold fury in his emerald eyes, burning there like wildfire. He wrenched his arm free of her grasp with more strength than necessary. Salazar then slapped Helga across the face, hard. She cried out and stumbled backwards, but he had already turned and was storming off. Even through her tear-filled eyes, Helga could see that the muscles of his back and neck were tight with anger under his bottle-green cloak.
Rowena ran forwards and put her hands on Helga's shoulders and looked at her. There was an angry bright red welt raising up on her cheek and there were even a few scratches where Salazar's fingernails had grazed her skin. Tears were pouring down Helga's face. Rowena hugged her tightly. Helga's tears made a salty wet spot all over Rowena's neck and chest. Ro pulled back gently and said in a soft, soothing voice, "Hel, dear, Salazar just needs some space and some time to calm down. He'll come back and apologize, you'll see."
Godric joined them. He put his arms around both of them and for a moment they all just shared a group hug. "Salazar has a bit of a twisted mind, but that can't weigh us down," Godric murmured. "We said we'd make a school and so we shall, Sal or no Sal." He looked down at Rowena, whose face was closest to his. "We need to Owl everyone we know. Anyone who has children who need a magical education. And we need other staff."
Rowena looked up at Godric and was slightly startled to see his face just inches from her own. "I know a few people," she murmured back. "Actually I know a lot of people." She smiled. Godric smiled back.
"And I as well," said Helga, who had composed herself. "I guess it is settled then. We should sleep on it, see if Sal comes back, and start sending out owls in the morning."
Meanwhile, Salazar was in his happy place. The Chamber.
He was curled up on the stone floor, contemplating his actions. Did I do the right thing? he wondered. Salazar sighed aloud. The purple toad in front of him let out a croak. He looked at it. He looked at the chicken egg it was sitting on. Not much of it was visible but for a tiny part of it in between two folds of the toad's slimy, horny skin. He supposed it didn't much matter the intention behind his actions. For soon, the egg would hatch and he would have all he wanted. A true friend. Someone to talk to. The great Basilisk of Slytherin would go down in history as the greatest and most famous basilisk. The Monster of the Chamber of Secrets. He liked the sound of that.
He liked the sound of that very much.