Chaos slouched on his throne, cradling his bearded face. The Void pulsed purple, red and black all around him, extending to infinity in every direction. Fathomless eyes glazed over, he watched Taylor walking away from Pagoto’s, the ice cream shop they had worked together at nearly half a year ago. She was going to board an airplane to a foreign country and disappear from Ever’s life – at least for a little while.

  The realm shifted, a doorway gaping open. A bare foot stepped out from the Earth dimension, followed by the rest of its body, shapely curves reminiscent of verdant valleys.

  “Father,” Gaia said. Her long hair, almost reaching her feet, had wound themselves into braids. In this realm, they seemed to take a mind of their own, twisting like serpents. “Who are you watching?”

  “Child.” That was the extent of Chaos’ acknowledgement of this particular progeny. She knew perfectly well who he was watching. After all, in the guise of a wizened, old woman bent with age, she herself had spoken with Taylor not two weeks ago.

  Gaia crossed her bare arms and sighed heavily. She had long made peace with the idea that she was not his favoured daughter. If she wanted anything, she was going to have to find ways to get it herself.

  “And you, sister,” Gaia looked to the left of Chaos, where the favoured daughter sat upon an ornate stool constructed of constellations. “Since when have you been interested in the affairs of humans?”

  Nyx sat up, straight-backed but not stiff, her eyes far away like her father. The interstellar fabric of her flowing dress teemed with stars and celestial bodies, playing hide and seek amongst the galaxies.

  “Not humans, as such,” Nyx said, her voice delayed with the echo of the night. Just the apprentice of Thanatos. From her point of view, Ever looked… sad? No, that wasn’t quite right. Resigned? Yes, that was closer.

  “Father,” Gaia said, a bit sharper this time. “Winter is upon me; I have sown my seeds. They should take root, however… I have reason to believe that they may not flourish.”

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  Chaos finally looked at the unfavoured daughter, barely a flick of his inscrutable eyes. Gaia smiled; it was enough. All she needed was an iota of his attention.

  “‘Reason to believe?’” Chaos said, words dripping with suspicion. “Who gave you reason to bel–”

  The Void screamed, a guttural, tearing sound, as a new gateway tore open. An unfamiliar and unwelcome presence stepped in, violating the space.

  Chaos slammed his hands on the arm rests and stood up. “Why is he here?” In a flash, Chaos appeared in front of the intruder, a fist drawn back in preparation to obliterate…

  …only to find himself unable to strike.

  The intruder let his hand drop to his side, accounting for Chaos easily, almost laughably so. He walked slowly past the supposed first Primordial, whose bearded face was frozen in a furious rictus.

  “Enough,” Nyx said, gliding towards Chaos. Her midnight dress ebbed as she placed her hands on her father's shoulders. “Release him.”

  “Only if Father promises not to smite him.” Gaia had skipped to the Fourth God girlishly to welcome him and was now gazing admiringly at him, hands tucked into the crook of his elbow. “Not that he’s able to.”

  The Fourth God raised the hand untethered to Gaia. With a languid turn of the wrist, Chaos was released.

  Chaos staggered as he stood. “He must go–”

  “We know that the goddess-to-be’s mortal coil is prematurely ending," Gaia said, cutting off her apoplectic father. "The Fates have said if she doesn’t Ascend, I won’t see the coming spring. I propose that he is next to go to Earth. He will give her enough time to fulfill her destiny." And I will get my spring once more. She allowed herself an indulgent smile.

  “It is still too early for him to go, the goddess-to-be is not yet at the Cusp,” Nyx said. Checking her father was OK, she took a step forward. “I will go; I wish to spend the winter with Ever. When the time is right, I will return… and then, he can go.” She spared a look to the Fourth God, who was regarding her with his own dark, unblinking eyes.

  “And what is it you want to do with Ever over the winter?” Gaia asked, her eyes cold.

  Nyx smiled. Something I never got the chance to do with Thanatos.