Federico was in his room as two Soldado guards stood outside the door to prevent him from escaping. It suited him fine since it was going to be impossible for him to leave. 

Though there was some comfort in being in prison, Federico was still fuming at the verdict. With everything he had said to Padre Fermin and the Bishops, he was still to be a Padre exiled to Mission San Carlos. 

There was one worry off his shoulders, though. 

Pascual. 

He went to visit him as predicted and asked for more money. Since Federico was still to be a Padre, he wouldn't have money on him anymore. The memory etched his mind.

Federico was fuming to the core as he paced back and forth in his small prison cell.  He believed he would be free from the Mission's way of life. He also believed, with all the evidence that was presented regarding Victoriano's crime, that Federico would see him executed.

Nothing went according to plan.

Victoriano would still live. 

Federico would be damned to live the rest of his life as a Padre. 

It was all because of Metztli.

Federico stopped pacing. 

Metztli.

"Yes, this is all her fault! She swayed my mind and body! Ever since her arrival, she has consumed me! Metztli was the one who made me do the actions that I have done! That wench! That seductress! It's all her fault!" Federico screamed all his frustration. He felt weak whenever he thought about her and spoke about her. He hated how Metztli made him feel about her. 

Federico still desired her.

However, she was with Esteban, and it was only a matter of time before she left with him. 

Federico was enraged that it was he who was still to live as a Padre while Metztli would live freely. He was going to live in a prison for the rest of his life, while Metztli would be the wife of another man. He was going to live and die alone, while loved ones would surround Metztli.

"It's her fault. Her fault her! HERS!" He punched the prison bars. "Damn you, Metztli! Damn you to hell!" Federico knelt on the floor as he scrunched parts of his hair that were slowly growing back. 

Noise echoed from the outside; someone was arriving. 

Composing himself, Federico stood up to see who would be visiting him. The door opened; it was Pascual.

Federico bit his lower lip, hoping he had enough time to plan to get Pascual out of the way. There was no other choice, since he didn't have any money to pay and couldn't steal from the Mission's treasury. Pascual was the only one who entered, as his men were ordered to stay outside.

Pascual stood before Federico's cell. He knew something had gone wrong during the trial. "Todavía estás en este agujero de mierda (You're still in this shithole)."

"Hn. No por mucho tiempo. Me niego a estar atado aquí para siempre (Hn. Not for long. I refuse to be bound here forever)."

"Entonces, ¿qué pasó en el juicio? ¿Victoriano será ejecutado? (So what happened in the trial? Will Victoriano be put to death?)."

Federico sighed. "No. Será exiliado de esta Misión (No. He is to be exiled from this Mission)."

"¿¡Qué!? ¡Pensé que nos desharíamos de ese viejo tonto! ¿¡Exilio!? ¿¡Mató a otros y no sufrirá el mismo destino!? (What!? I thought we would be rid of that old fool! Exile!? He killed others, and he is not to suffer the same fate!?)." Pascual was enraged that all the traveling and work he had done had gone to waste. All that time wasted for nothing. Seeing Federico still in prison made his blood boil. "¿Dónde está el dinero que me has prometido? (Where is the money that you have promised me?)."

There it was.

Federico wasn't surprised that Pascual wanted more money. Money that he didn't have. Pascual could tell the Bishops about the money and blame everything on him. He couldn't let that happen. "No tengo el dinero porque todavía estoy preso aquí. Estoy condenado a seguir siendo Padre (I don't have the money since I am still imprisoned here; I am condemned to remain a Padre)."

Pascual walked closer to Federico as he tightly grabbed the prison bars. "¿Estás diciendo que no me pagarás? (Are you saying that you won't pay me?)."

"Lo que digo es que no tengo dinero (What I am saying is that I don't have money)."

Pascual was infuriated; all his work was for nothing. He realized that Federico would never pay him more.  "¡Padre inútil! (Worthless Padre!). ¡Me dejaste como un tonto! ¿¡Para qué!? ¿¡Para esa mestiza!? (You made a fool out of me! For what!? For that Mestiza!?)." Letting go of the prison bars, Pascual said, "Bueno, si no me vas a pagar, recibiré mi pago de otra manera. Probaré esa mestiza que siempre quisiste. Te haré saber cómo se siente (Well, if you're not going to pay me, I will get my payment another way. I will get a taste of that Mestiza that you always wanted. I will let you know how she feels)."

The mention of Metztli possibly being touched by another man made Federico lose control. He grabbed Pascual in a chokehold as he pressed his arms and hands through the prison bars. His face became crazed. "¡Hijo de puta! ¿¡Te atreves a amenazarme!? ¡Humilde ranchero! ¡No te permitiré tocar lo que es mío!" (You son of a bitch! You dare threaten me!? You lowly rancher! I will not allow you to touch what is mine!)." He had enough as he yelled for the Soldados, who immediately arrived. "¡Este hombre confesó! ¡Confesó haber robado del tesoro de la Misión! ¡Robó en la Misión! ¡Es un ladrón! (This man confessed! He confessed to stealing from the Mission's treasury! He stole from the Mission! He is a thief!)"

The Soldados looked at one another, unsure of what to do, but when Federico mentioned that the money was at Pascual's ranch, they knew it couldn't be ignored. The Soldados grabbed Pascual and his men. They then got Federico out of prison. One of them told him that they would also inform the Bishops regarding the situation.

Federico lay on his bed, smirking when seeing Pascual's fearful eyes. He also remembered burying Padre Lucas's body close to the ranch. Killing Padre Lucas wasn't part of his plan, nor burying him close to Pascual's ranch, but he was surprised by his lack of planning. Everything went according to plan with Pascual. The money would be found, and no one would believe Pascual. 

His main plan was to deter the plan of being sent to Mission San Carlos.

The door opened where a Soldado entered. "Padre, el obispo Juan desea hablar con usted (Padre, Bishop Juan wishes to speak with you)."

Federico knew it was his only chance to delay his removal from the Mission. Luckily, Bishop Juan would be easier to persuade. He was led out of his room and toward Bishop Juan's quarters. 

Another Soldado stood outside the door, knocking and opening it. Federico was motioned inside. 

Bishop Juan had a couple of piles of paperwork on his wooden desk. He also had a slightly larger room, a bed, a couple of cabinets, and a simple fireplace. Bishop Juan looked up from his paperwork and motioned himself back to his chair. "Fellow brother. I can tell you are not thrilled with the verdict."

"I am not, Bishop. But if it is Padre Fermin's will, so be it."

"You have felt the way you did for a long time, have you not?"

"I confess that I have. I have not lied. I imagine that there are many of our brothers that have felt the same."

Bishop Juan sat silently, putting his hands together. He continued, "I was told about Pascual possibly taking money from the Mission's treasury. I got word that the money was found."

"I hoped I was wrong."

"That is not all. It seems that Padre Lucas was found. He is dead."

Federico pretended to look shocked. "Wh-What!? H-How can that be!?"

"I, too, am shocked. The other Bishops and Padre Fermin do not know yet. I will inform them eventually. What I am curious is how Pascual was able to get the money." Bishop Juan's stare intensified. "How did you know that Pascual had the money?"

"He confessed it to me, Bishop."

"I see. I was informed that Pascual had visited you a couple of times. Why is that?"

Federico knew that Bishop Juan had become suspicious of him, and he had to tread carefully. "Word spread that I was imprisoned. The first time he visited me, Pascual informed me of his financial troubles. He needed money to help his ranch survive. I didn't know why he told me such a thing. I must imagine he hoped I would speak of the treasury. Though I must confess that I found his behavior odd."

"Odd?"

"Yes, he looked stressed and worried. I must imagine that there was more that he was hiding." Federico widened his eyes. "B-Bishop! Is there a possibility that, it was not Pascual who took the money from the treasury, but Padre Lucas!?"

Bishop Juan flinched. "What?"

"Padre Lucas knew about the treasury and would have access to help the treasurer to ensure the money's safety. Could it be that he stole money to leave the Mission!?" The Bishop looked thoughtful, and Federico had him in his grasp. "Pascual came to me and confessed to taking the money, believing that I would no longer be in the congregation. He felt guilty and wanted to confess. I stopped him because he took the money. Now, with Padre Lucas dead there is a possibility that he could have..."

The men were silent until Bishop Juan stood. He looked at the Soldados who never left Federico's side. "Soldados, después de mucha consideración. Pascual y quienes lo ayudaron serán ejecutados. Lo he querido (Soldiers, after much consideration. Pascual and those who helped him are to be put to death. I have willed it)."

Federico refrained from smirking. Pascual was going to be out of his way. It was his chance. "Bishop, I would like to ask one favor."

"I do not-"

"I will leave to San Carlos, I will not fight against the verdict. I wish to stay here until the end of the year for repentence. Once the year is over, I will go to San Carlos. I plead to you to speak on my behalf to Padre Fermin."

The Bishop was surprised by the request, but given everything that had happened, it wasn't too much. "Very well, I will see what I can do."

"Thank you, Bishop."