"You'll do fine. You've always excelled at everything you've done."
"You raised me. I know the lessons you taught me will help him turn out well."
Darian smiled, touched by the words.
"How are you?" Damian asked.
"I've got nine lives. I'll survive," Darian replied.
"I'm really proud of you and the girls, Darian. I know it wasn't easy."
"No, it wasn't," Darian agreed softly. "I'm probably gonna start hunting down Others today. The Watchers made a mess of this."
"I'll help you. There's got to be a way to track and mark them. Jule and I have a few ideas."
"We'll worry about it later. Go home. Enjoy your family, D."
"They're your family, too, Darian," Damian said firmly.
"I know."
"We're moving the headquarters again. Seems like the Black God is done playing. His vamps started stalking our Guardians this morning, and I lifted the ceasefire mandate."
"Good to know."
"Whenever you're ready, we'll be in northern California," Damian said. "Also, there was some sort of disturbance reported near the local Guardians' station. Might be some guardsmen loose in Mexico who escaped before the immortal world collapsed. I told them you might be by."
"I'll check it out," Darian said, grateful for something to do. "I'll be by later."
Damian studied him, the White God's power swirling in the space between them. Darian sensed his concern but couldn't bring himself to talk about it. Not yet. Maybe in a few thousand years, after he'd killed every Other and Watcher he could get his hands on and found some way to numb his pain. He'd go home then. For now, he couldn't fathom an existence in a home filled with a family when he'd lost his other half.
"Take care, Darian," Damian said.
"You, too, little brother."
Damian left. Darian rose and dusted himself off, thoughts going first to his cats at the cabin and then to the possible guardsmen nearby. He felt more like destroying than nurturing. He Traveled to the small town, at once struck by the scent of barbacoa again. His eyes drifted down the street.
The town looked quiet. He sensed no Others or Watchers there, though he wouldn't know if a guardsman was present until it attacked him.
"I take it you're my ride."
He whipped around to face the speaker, too shocked to move. Jenn stood on the low front porch of the Guardians' station. She'd cleaned up since he last saw her, and her short hair was still damp. When he didn't move, she approached and stopped in front of him, looking up at him.