"My own enemy saved him," Damian said with a harsh laugh. "Our world is so fucked up."
"Yes, ikir, it is," the Watcher agreed.
The depth of Claire's betrayal made him wish he could kill her again a thousand times over! He'd been too kind in his execution of the sick bitch!
"Kiri," Darian said almost sadly and looked around as if lost.
Damian's spinning emotions warmed at the idea that Sofia saved him. He didn't want to think about the probability behind such a powerful Oracle appearing when she did. No, he wouldn't look that gift horse in the mouth, not when the embodiment of her ability sat hunched before him.
"Will he ever be close to the man I knew?" Damian whispered the thought, unable to help the tears that rose with it.
"There is a legend among the humans of the phoenix, who rises from his own ashes," the Watcher replied. "Your brother will never be what he was, but he will rise again as the Grey God."
He looked to the Watcher, surprised. "Darian is the Grey God?"
"Yes, ikir. He will be forever stuck between the two worlds, the good and the evil, without entering either or leaving either behind. His will not be an easy role to fill."
He reached out to his brother and touched his head to Darian's forehead. Darian didn't resist, and Damian delighted in the idea that the sound of him breathing meant his brother was truly alive.
"Watcher, I love him, and I can't fathom his pain," he said. "Will he be lost like this forever?"
"No. Even in human time, his suffering will be short but it will be very bad for him until it ends," the Watcher replied.
"Sofia can help him."
"There will be others who will help him, too. He will need them all, and he will need you if he is to take his place as the Grey God. One of your team captains will have friends as well."
"Jule is as old as you," Damian said. "Or older?"
"Close," the Watcher admitted. "Jule is still not in favor among my kind. His penance is not yet served."
"Good. Leave him here with me."
"You'll not face anyone willing to challenge you for him, ikir, I assure you, though there may be some left who might help him." The amount of distaste in the Watcher's voice amused him. Jule had never said what he'd done to piss someone off and get exiled to earth, but it must have been bad if the Watcher's kind clipped his powers and sent him packing. "By your leave, ikir," the Watcher said with a bow of his head.