"How many gods can we expect to be aiding us thus?" Hades spoke before he realized that the question he meant to ask himself was said outloud. Nyx turned her fathomless eyes on him and he felt rooted to the spot, understanding the term 'turned to stone' like none other than one of Medusa's victims would.
                              
"They don't act out of compassion for the plight that this woman will experience. Instead out of the necessity of preservation. Chronos has very little in the way of supporters here. Something you know well and were smart to plan in accordance to. However, he's not the only one with foresight. Others see that the forks of the future, the possible paths are all converging into two options. Success or failure. And none know which is the likely path. My Keretes and Moirai love him not and in fact, they revel and dance with the joy of his possible ending. Chronos was judged guilty for striking down his wife Rhea, although his actions were necessary, they still wish to punish him for it. But Philotes has extended her offer of help, which is the wont of her nature." Nyx explained, her voice melodius and slightly hypnotic.
                              
With most of the Greek pantheon, they weren't really able to affect each other, and even though Hades was the King of Tartarus and the Underworld, he still felt Nyx' ability to wrap him in her spell. "You speak in riddles, mother of the night." Hades said, once again his mouth speaking the words his mind meant to keep hidden.
                              
"She speaks plain, you just refuse to look beneath her words." Herald chided from his position near the slumbering Ananke and her passenger. The immortal man still held the tiny woman's hand lightly, seeming loath to release her and lose his sensations again.
                              
"And what is it that I'm being too dense to see?" Hades demanded, finding his control restored and the flowerly language eliminated if he focused his attention on the other man and Ananke. Or maybe that was just Ananke's ability to make things different than they were supposed to be affecting him. She was beyond the Veil now, her latent power might be stronger here.
                              
"That we'll get reluctant help from those that want order and Time to survive. And active interferance from those that relish the chaos. Which begs the question, why is the daughter of Chaos assisting us?" Herald replied, his hand stroking the back of Ananke's in his grip.
                              
Nyx didn't give an answer to their god nor immortal man, instead her attention drawn to Ananke's still form. "She has a fascinating mind. A fracture that splits her but not along the fault lines she expects. She is inevitability, neither Chaos nor Order. Catalyst, catastrophe and change, all the impulses I mother and father. The mortal imbodiment of the crucible we find ourselves in. And her battles have already begun. You would stand as her guard and you as her guide. But neither one of you can follow her on the path she has to follow."
                              
"Her battle has already begun? What have you done to her?" Hades demanded, and despite his respect for and fear of Nyx and her unknown powers, he stepped forward as if he could threaten her.
                              
And he saw something on Nyx's face that made his immortal heart throb painfully and his hot blood run ice cold; he saw sadness and compassion in her eyes. "I'm helping bring them face to face. They need to come together and that means finding a common ground. And a common enemy." she said sadly.
                              
"Who did you put in her head with them?" Herald demanded, seeming to understand Nyx in a way Hades clearly didn't.
                              
"Eris and she brings the Erinyes." Nyx said and Hades groaned.
                              
~**~
                              
Ananke hesitated, wondering how volatile Chronos would be if he realized she was following him through his mind as he had strolled through hers. But the grief on his face resonated with the broken part of her soul, pulling forward an all but forgotten compassion. Her hand reached out and touched the god's shoulder softly, falling away almost as soon as she realized that her feet had taken her over without conscience direction from her mind.
                              
Chronos turned a snarling face at her, the grief she had seen earlier still etched in the lines of his face, obliterating his normally handsome features and morphing them into something grotesque. And before she could step away and give him the space he so clearly demanded, she spoke. "You're not alone. Whatever it is, even as aggravating as you are, I agreed to be here and help you."
                              
He stared at her, eyes burning with a resentful anger, his mouth twisted around a snarl and his body language knotted with conflict. But he didn't lash out with anger like she expected. He glared at her and even looked like he was going to strike out at  her, but didn't. Like everything else about this strange place, he remained silent, as if kept from noise.
                              
Ananke frowned as she realized that although they were in his mind, he was forced into the role of witness and spectator once more. She didn't understand why the universe seemed to conspire to force this powerful man to submit, but she was starting to understand some of his constant anger. She was used to making her own decisions, something Chronos was clearly accustomed to as well, and it would have spiked her ire back when her emotions were close to the surface. Now though, she wouldn't know what to do with anger, even the brief wonder this strange setting allowed her was faded and distant.
                              
Before they could continue their awkard, one sided dialogue, Ananke finally caught the distant sounds of something else.  It was a strange combination of the sounds of something or things approaching, and a chittering of many voices whispering nearly in unison. Come to us.... guilty.... judges.... bear your blame.... feel the pain you deserve...
                              
"This cannot be good." Ananke whispered softly, standing beside Chronos and knowing that the whispered threats were speaking to him and not her.
                              
Next to her, Chronos shook his head, as if trying to cast off the voices calling him onwards. But his feet shuffled forwards, his body seeming to be compelled and Ananke walked next to him. He might insult her, batter them both with his anger and pain and generally act like an ungrateful lout. But she wouldn't condemn him to face this alone, even in the supposed security of his own mind. Something was telling her that just because his body was locked away and safe elsewhere, did not mean he could not suffer. And a part of Ananke was not alright with that thought at all.