Neophyte

Hurt

Guillermo and Metztli didn't let Valentina out of their sight as they ran after her. Guillermo continuously called out to her, trying to get her to stop. 

Valentina wouldn't listen as she screamed. She ran out of the Mission, tripped over a rock, and fell. Guillermo and Metztli stopped and kept their distance, not wanting to add to the stress she was already feeling. 

The Bishop finally caught up with them and walked before his son and Metztli. "Bishop, please give her space."

Valentina immediately turned, seeing the Bishop wanting to get closer. "Ca ye huitz tinechcahua (No, get away from me)!"

The Bishop stopped, seeing Valentina, his daughter, in her current state, his heart shattered. Everything went wrong, and it took him so long to realize his mistake. "V-Valentina, please...listen to me. I-"

"Axi (No)! Don't walk further! It is a lie! A lie! My father is dead! Dead! Nonantzin told me and Guillermo since we were children!"

Metztli covered her lips with her hands and fought with the tears threatening to form. Guillermo bit his lower lip, knowing the news would be difficult for his sister. Walking forward and away from his father, he looked at Valentina. "Nohueltiuh (My younger sister), it is the truth. The Bishop is our father."

Valentina's eyes widened more; her lips quivered. She hoped that her brother was lying, trying to look out for any sign. Guillermo was serious; his eyes were saddened. Shaking her head, Valentina hyperventilated. 

"Valentina, please, try to breathe."

Catching her breath, she looked at the Bishop. The man she loathed, believing he was a white demon. Memories flooded her when she and Guillermo were children. Their mother would always invite the Bishop to their village, or they would visit the Mission. He would always bring them gifts and teach them English and Spanish. She didn't understand why he would help them since they were Tongva.

Realization hit her; she wasn't entirely Tongva. "I-I am a mestiza..." Bile built up in her throat, and she threw up. Her stomach burned with pain as the truth hit her.

"Valentina!" Everyone saw Manuel gently holding onto Mariana, who looked to have difficulty walking. Metztli immediately went to her elder and assisted her. Seeing her daughter's current state broke Mariana's heart. 

Valentina eventually stopped throwing up, and she took deep breaths, trying to calm her heart. She slowly looked at everyone who looked at her. "Stop looking at me! Stop! Stop! STOP!"

"Valentina, please stop!" Guillermo pleaded. "You're hurt! I'm hurt too! Please calm down!"

"Calm down!? CALM DOWN!? How could you tell me to calm down!? They lied to us! We were forced to believe that our father was dead but that-!" Looking at the Bishop with hatred and disgust. "This white devil is our father! You call yourself a man of your god! You, Nonantzin! How dare you lay with a man whose people forced us to be slaves within our land!?"

"V-Valentina..." Mariana cried as she struggled to hold herself together.

Guillermo went to his sister, violently grabbing parts of her upper dress. "Don't you ever speak in such a way to our mother! She is our mother, whether we like it or not! Mother was not at fault! She was a victim, but the Bishop, Victoriano, saved her when no one else could!"

The Bishop and everyone were surprised at Guillermo's actions. Mariana went through many emotions, but her son still defended her and Victoriano. She didn't want her children to learn the truth in such a way, but they deserved to know everything. "V-Valentina, we are not Tongva."

"Wh-What?"

"I was born in a village near the Mission of San Diego de Acala. I am of the Kumeyaay people. Your father is Victoriano. Before he became a Bishop and a Padre, he was a Soldado who guarded the Mission." Mariana continued to explain how they met, how Victoriano saved her, and how they traveled until the Tongva found them. "That is the truth, Valentina. I am so sorry that we lied to you and your brother. We believed it was the best way to do so to protect you both."

Esteban was stunned when hearing the truth: the twins were the children of Mariana and the Bishop. It was only a matter of time before someone would hear or catch them. "B-Bishop, I need to take you to your room. If the Soldados find out that you both are out of this Mission, they will hunt you both."

"Esteban, we can't let this happen! They have a chance to-"

"No, Metztli. If we run, they will hunt us. I worry more about Mariana and you all. Eventually, we have to pay for my choices, but I will ask for leniency for Mariana and..." Before Bishop Victoriano could finish, Valentina ran away. Guillermo wanted to run after her, but his father stopped him. "Leave her, don't force her to try to accept the truth. She needs time. Eventually, I will take the responsibility. Your mother and Metztli need you right now. The battle is not won yet, and Federico is more dangerous than I imagined."

"Bishop, what-?"

"Do not call me Bishop anymore. I only became Bishop to protect my family. Padre Fermin will know the truth, and I know there will be consequences. I must find leniency for Mariana."

"Victoriano, what are you trying to say?" Metztli asked while going to him. "Please, you can't give up! You and Mariana sacrificed so much and-"

"Dear child, you are truly an innocent soul. I am sorry for making you see this world. There would come a point when I would have to face the consequences. Metztli, please watch over Mariana and Valentina. Do not tell my daughter that you knew the truth. That is all I will ask from you." He walked to Mariana, his love, and gently held her face. "I am sorry this happened. I should have never let you carry all the burden. I should have thought of a better solution. I will try to make this right and ensure that you and our children will be far from here."

Mariana held Victoriano's hands. "My love, do not give in. We can still try anew."

"Manuel, por favor, asegúrense de que esté y salva (Manuel, please, ensure that she is safe)."

"Si obispo (Yes, Bishop)." Manuel and Metztli assisted Mariana away to her room.

 Guillermo and Victoriano looked at one another. Guillermo shook his head as he went off. 

"I made such a mess of things. I cannot believe I wrote everything in that journal."

"Do not blame yourself, Bis-I mean, Victoriano. You have every right to write your feelings, but Federico has fooled us all. We cannot let him win."

Victoriano shook his head. "We won't. I want you to do me a favor."

"Yes, anything."

"It is best we speak in my quarters. We cannot have unwanted ears listening."

Esteban nodded as he followed Victoriano, not knowing that Nicolas Jose was hiding and listening to everything.