Neophyte

Threat

Manuel sat outside the Mission's prison where Padre Federico was held. He was still trying to comprehend everything that occurred. He tried to get an answer from Esteban, but there was still no answer. 

"Manuel."

The Soldado flinched and noticed Esteban walking toward him; he stood. "Señor, el Padre Federico está en la celda de la prisión según lo ordenado (Sir, Padre Federico is in the prison cell as ordered)."

"¿Bueno, está despierto (Good, is he awake)?"

"No sé. Todavía estaba inconsciente cuando lo llevaron a prisión (I don't know. He was still unconscious when he was brought to prison)."

Esteban scoffed as he walked to the door. "Voy a entrar (I'm going to enter)."

Before opening the door, Manuel stood forward. "Señor, por favor, dígame qué está pasando. Te pueden castigar por poner tus manos encima de un padre sin motivo (Sir, please, tell me what is happening. You can get punished for putting your hands on a Padre without reason).

"Eventualmente te lo diré, pero primero necesito hablar con este animal (I will tell you eventually, but I need to speak with this animal first)." Before Manuel could speak, Esteban immediately opened the door, entered the prison, and closed the door behind him. The prison was dark and cold, an endless abyss. There was a single window that let little light, but it suited Esteban fine. He believed that the Padre deserved any light. 

Federico was in the first prison cell, where a bit of his figure was visible in the light. He lay on the dirt ground, his face beaten, bruised, and bloody. Esteban still had the urge to continue beating him, but he didn't want to make his and Metztli's situation worse. He got close to the prison, where he stood in the dim light of the single window. "You awake?"

A painful groan echoed from the prison cell. Federico slowly opened his eyes, and it was dark, but when he turned to Esteban, he saw him standing in the light. "It would seem that I am." He slowly sat up, but his face was in pain. His head felt as if it were about to explode. Looking around him, Federico realized he was in a prison cell; memories slowly flooded him of what had happened in the church. 

Metztli eyed him with fear and disgust. He begged her to forgive him, to see that he was destroyed, but she refused to listen to his reasoning. Now, she would never see him in the same light. He should have just given up and accepted the fate that waited for him, but he couldn't. Federico didn't care about the consequences; he still desired Metztli.

"The Bishop knows what you did, Federico. This is the end for you. You will be banished far from this Mission."

"Pfft. It would seem so. I look forward of getting out of this wretched place."

Esteban was slightly surprised by how eerily calm Federico was. Something wasn't right. "I imagine you never wanted to be in this place. Why be a Padre if you never wished for this?"

"Unfortunate events that gave me a difficult choice. I was able to live this long because of this forsaken choice. I will eventually be free from this life."

"You seem to be too happy with that prospect. I cannot help but believe that you have something up your sleeve."

Federico raised an eyebrow. He couldn't help but smirk. "Why think that, Soldado? You have beaten me."

"You are too calm and I know that you will not go down without a fight. What you want is Metztli. You think she wants you after what you have done?"

"No, she made it very clear. However, I am a man with conviction and determination. If I cannot have her out her free will, then it would be by force."

Esteban tried to contain his anger as his fists clenched. "You are sure of yourself. Metztli will fight to the death rather than be with a pig such as you. I also will not allow you to be beside her."

"You desire her."

"I do not desire her." Esteban walked closer to the prison cell. "I love her."

Federico's smirk died down while looking at his enemy. "Love?"

"Yes, love. We feel differently for Metztli. You desire her while I love her. You desire what you cannot have. You wish to possess her. I wish to love and make her happy if that is what she wants."

"Heh. Heh." Federico laughed; his laughter grew louder, then stopped. "You think that you will be able to protect her from me? You believe that you will win? Blundering fool. I have one last plan before those wretched fools banish me from this Mission."

"Plan?"

"I have a feeling that you and Bishop Victoriano will have an easy win, but I have a plan against that old fool."

"You jest."

The Padre chuckled as he slowly stood up from the floor. "Why is it difficult for you to believe such a thing? Do you believe that he can keep you and Metztli safe? He may be a Bishop of this Mission, but don't forget that he is just a man, like you and I."

"You do not make any sense."

"Of course not, because I am not foolish enough to speak of my plans. I have something that will devastate him and cost him everything. Once he is gone from this Mission, the savages will be at the mercy of the other Bishops." Esteban was about to respond, but Federico continued, "Every man has secrets. Victoriano is no different. You all will soon understand when I stand before Padre Fermin and the Bishops. It will be a spectacle. Now..." Federico sat back down on the floor. "I wish to be left alone, and it will only be a matter of time."

Esteban wanted answers, but he knew Federico wouldn't speak anymore. He walked out of the prison where Manuel awaited him. " ¿Qué pasó (What happened)?"

"No es lo que pasó, sino lo que puede pasar (It's not what happened, but what may happen)." Esteban felt a sense of dread in the pit of his stomach. Federico became even more of a threat, and for the first time, he feared him.