[center][b][color=FF0000][sup][h1]R E N E  B E L M O N T[/h1][/sup][/color][/b][/center]
[COLOR=FF0000][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]Special Zone, 2021[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][sup][color=darkgray]Hotel, [i]Azure[/i] 6:30pm[/color][/sup][/INDENT][/INDENT]



“You bastard!” Nicholas growled at the piercing blue gaze of his host. He was furious. It wasn’t like he hadn’t known Rene was planning something. This however hadn’t crossed Nick’s mind in the slightest. “You know damn well I wouldn’t want to attend any social gatherings.” He threw the invitation back at elder vampire. The last thing Nicholas had expected when he awoke this afternoon was one of Belmont’s servants knocking on his suite door handing him a designer envelope. He hadn’t known what any of the contents entailed but as he opened it and looked it over a sinking feeling began to set in. 

It was an invite and not just any invite. A masquerade scheduled for tonight with the location being the very hotel he was being housed. Rage immediately set in as Nicholas demanded that the messenger tell him Rene’s locations. The source blood must have known what the younger vampire reaction would be. His servant immediately gave Nicholas his office location. Ten minutes later he was standing in the source blood office. He hadn’t been this furious since the council had taken Audrielle's remains and forced him to remain on the front lines. Rene didn’t seem over perturbed by the outburst though. 

He sat in his desk chair rubbing the base of his ear. “I hear you just Nic. You don’t have to destroy my ear drum in the process.” Nicholas frowned. He did not care much for Rene’s discomfort at the moment. He hadn't been this furious in a long time. “You know damn well the last place I want to be is anywhere near the covens let alone the council.” He threw the invite on the desk. Rene picked up the parchment as he stared back at his guest. “Well good afternoon to you as well Nicholas.” The older vampire replied. Nicholas growled he was not amused and wasn’t in the mood to play any roundabout games. “Answer the question Rene.” He grounded out. 

The source blood sighed then pouted. “Fine.” He whined. “You're not any fun, Nic.” The old blood looked to the elder vampire with murder in his eye. It was apparent he wanted answers and there wasn’t any amount sidestepping Rene tried to pull that would dissuade him. So Rene just this one time did him courtesy and did not. Even though he really wanted to. He knew better than most that when Nicholas was in this kind of mood it was best to deal with him head on especially if you wanted to persuade him. Which Rene did because Nic needed to be at the party tonight for the next half of his plan to be set in motion. 

“I hardly call this a game Jinnai.” The elder vampire began. “We both know that you will have to meet with the council sooner, or later.” Rene looked at the old blood solemnly. He stood up from the desk, heading towards the large window of his office. “You just returned from a five decade exile and the last thing you need is the council gaining the upper hand on you and imposing on you another.” Nic remained silent but mentally he checked that Rene had a point. The council hadn’t ordered his exile the first time but they had been one major factor towards the reason he had left the first time. “They did not let you even see her remains Nic.” Rene reminded him. The old blood pressed his lips, he did not need reminding of what the council was capable of. It was one of the reasons why he wanted to keep a low profile now that he had returned. 

“Get to the point Rene.” He pushed. The last thing Nic wanted was a trip down memory lane. “My point is that you have to face the council eventually.” Rene turned away from the window looking towards the old blood. “Why not do it on your own terms, and make it now?” The source blood suggested. Nicholas’s eyes narrowed. Rene seemed sincere but there was something in his word that piqued his suspicion. The younger vampire could not explain it but he was ninety nine percent certain there was more to this then Belmont was letting on. Rene ever did anything out of the goodness of his heart. This obviously benefited him in some way as well. 

This party wasn’t just one of his mild mannered pranks he was known for.  He was planning something that would cause a high scale of unbalance, and Nicholas did not want any part of it.“Find yourself another pawn Rene. I refuse to be used and paraded around for a political stunt against the council.” He was tired of the source bloods never ending game of supremacy. Belmont looked to Nicholas, waving his hand unceremoniously. He, unlike his guest, did not see anything wrong with a little surprise. Though Rene saw now he would have to use other means of persuasion to convince Nic to attend this evening. The younger vampire could be quite stubborn at times. 

“I would never be so callous, as to force, or manipulate you into doing anything you did not wish to do old friend.” Rene walked towards the desk picking up the invite. Nicholas at first thought his host intended to leave the subject. However she should have known better. Rene never left anything to chance.  ”Of course if you do not attend this evening, your name just might pop up…” He trailed off waiting for the desired effect. “Who knows what subjects might come up while conversing with my fellow council members.” Rene of course would not bring it up but it wasn’t like Nicholas was aware of that. 

“Damn you Rene.” Nic spoke, as he walked towards the source blood snatching the invite from his hand. He turned heading toward the exit of the office. “Damn you to hell!” Nicholas slammed the door closed. He knew he hadn’t any choice in the matter now. He would attend the party. One the other side of the door. Rene’s crimson eyes lit up in amusement. He leaned back against the desk satisfied. Nicholas may not thank him right now but tonight his old comrade had no idea that this time Rene’s actions would prove beneficial to them both.