"Gentlemen," Salome greeted them as they both stopped outside the doorway to her chamber.
"Chancellor Agrippa," Bill greeted her.
"Come in," she said with a smile.
Nora stepped forward, "Brother, I want you to-"
"Go f*ck yourself Nora," Eric told her, not even sparing her a glance.
He knew without looking that he had hurt her, but he was beyond caring.
Salome's eyes flicked between them, "I'll ask again," she said in a conciliating tone, "please, come in."
Bill and Eric glanced at each other, before stepping across the threshold. The curtains behind Salome and Nora twitched and Russell jumped out.
Bill and Eric took up defensive positions, fangs out.
"Fangs," Russell said with a mocking grin, "you're such boys, I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to make an entrance is all," he explained, holding up his hands with a dramatic flair.
"Russell enough," Nora said quietly.
Russell narrowed his eyes a little, but she didn't notice.
"Put your fangs away," Salome said softly, "we're all friends here."
"Like f*ck we are," Bill retorted.
"Oh, I think we can be," Russell said, coming over to join them, "I changed my tune. You killed my Talbot," he continued, looking at Eric, "but I forgive you. Now you go."
"You slaughtered my entire family," Eric said through his fangs, making Bill glance at him in surprise.
Eric felt a wave of sadness and compassion from Nora, but he ignored her.
"Bygones," Russell said dismissively, making Eric tense. "Olive branch time. I'm making an effort here, it would behove you to respond in kind."
"Why should we believe you when no more than an hour ago-" Bill began, but Russell ignored him, turning to Eric.
"Tell me Northman," he said, coming to stand in front of him, "when you were hanging up there on one of those proud, untoned Turkish marble columns did you ever stop to wonder why I didn't kill you when I could have so easily?"
"Still wondering actually," Eric admitted, as he and Bill retracted their fangs.
"It's because I have been born again," Russell declared, moving back to stand just behind Salome's right shoulder, "made again in my new Maker's image."
"Your new Maker of course," Eric said derisively with a glance in Nora's direction.
"Brother I would never-" Nora started, once again stepping towards him.
"Stop calling me that!" Eric spat, cutting her off and stalking towards her. "You 'rescuing' us from the Authority, our getting caught – everything was a f*cking lie!" he bellowed, towering over her.
"Yes, I knew about Russell," Nora admitted, holding his gaze steadily, "but that's why I tried to save you. Because I didn't trust he wouldn't come after you."
"Oh ye of little faith," Russell admonished her.
Eric turned away from her, annoyed that she had caused him to lose his temper. He clenched his jaw as he returned to his place next to Bill, knowing that the real reason for his anger stemmed from his guilt at putting his trust in the wrong woman.
He should have known by now that Pam was the only one he could trust.
"I dug Russell up," Salome told them steadily.
"How did you know where he was?" Bill asked, surprised.
Salome gave him an almost pitying look, "The night you were ordered to show him the True Death, I followed you."
"Why?"
"Russell Edgington was the only vampire I knew of powerful enough to take Roman Zimojic out," she explained, a hint of pain crossing her face at the mention of Roman.
"Power aside, you had unparalleled access to the Guardian," Bill replied, clearly not convinced. "If you wanted him gone, wouldn't it have been easier to do it yourself?"
"The Book is very clear on this subject, the Guardian's blood is sacrosanct," Salome said sadly, "he alone shall determine when his essence shall flow. What happened tonight was inevitable," she paused and blood collected in the corners of her eyes, "but I say this with the deepest regret."
"Bullsh*t," Bill spat, "you can't play the grieving widow and the leader of a coup at the same time. I see you. All you want is power."
"I want to share it," Salome insisted, "with Nora, Russell, with the two of you – with everyone."
Eric resisted the urge to snort, like hell she wanted to share her newly found power.
"Too much vampire blood has been spilt in the singular pursuit of power," she continued, "and why? Lilith gives us more than enough to go around."
Beside her Russell was nodded reverently and Eric regarded him closely, still unconvinced by his show of piety.
"Join us," Nora begged, holding out her hand, "Please."
"Never," Eric said firmly, his eyes letting her know that he was rejecting more than just her offer. "You bible banging c*nts," he added derisively.
"What about you, Mr. Compton?" Salome asked, cocking her head to the side.
Bill paused for much longer than Eric thought necessary.
"I still believe that without peaceful coexistence between our species, neither species will survive," Bill said finally, causing Eric to relax slightly. "Mainstreaming is the only way," he added, taking a step back with Eric.
Salome considered them both for a long moment and Eric caught sight of Nora looking pleadingly in Salome's direction.
He lifted his chin defiantly, he'd meant what he said: he would never join them. If he did, he had no doubt that Pam would be dragged into it as well and there was no way he was ever going to allow that to happen.
Especially not with Russell around.
"Tomorrow night we're having a ceremony," Salome began slowly, "an initiation of sorts, I still would like to give you the option to participate."
Nora gave an audible sigh of relief, "Thank you Salome, you've shown tremendous mercy."
"No," Salome corrected her, "Lilith has shown her mercy."
"Hell yes," Russell agreed enthusiastically, holding his hands up to the sky with a beatific smile that Eric found truly terrifying, "she has."
"Tomorrow night then," Salome said, ignoring Russell's outburst.
"Yes," Bill said shortly.
"Until tomorrow," Eric agreed.