CH 3 RIDER

The morning of the departure of the Argo II was a busy one. Leo Valdez was yelling at Automatons to polish up the dragonhead at the mast of the boat. The campers going were scrambling to pack, and those who weren't going were on the beach laughing and staring at the marvelous flying boat. Rider was still in his bed staring at the ceiling, feeling miserable.

Uranus had said he had to go on the boat, but why should he trust Uranus? Rider knew he couldn't disobey Uranus, but how could he sneak onto the boat? All you need is a bit of luck. Luck. He was sick of the word; everybody thought he was so marvelous and unbeatable because he was always lucky. Well the truth was that Rider was no luckier than anybody else. This made him feel more miserable.

Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. Ugh, thought Rider, but he got out of bed to answer the door. Rider opened the door to see Kasper.

"What is it Kasper?" said Rider impatiently.

"I-uh… I just wanted to… ah, give you something," muttered Kasper. Rider motioned for Kasper to come in but Kasper hesitated. "I'm not allowed-"

"Kasper!" moaned Rider. Kasper was always afraid of breaking the rules, even though his father is the god of thieves. "Nobody is going to see you much less care!"

Kasper muttered something that Rider couldn't hear and he stepped inside making sure to close the door behind him. Kasper glanced around the room and saw the now shattered windows open. "Close the shades!" Kasper said urgently.

"Kasper-"

"Close them!" Yelled, and Rider closed them.

"Why are you being so secretive Kasper?" Rider asked.

"Well um…" Kasper started, "your father came to me on the beach and said you had to go on the Argo II and he dissolved and told me to give you this coin thing."

Rider let Kasper catch his breath for he had rushed through this speech as if he was afraid someone would interrupt him. Maybe he thought Rider would interrupt him. Realization struck him, Kasper was afraid of Rider.

"Kasper, please say it slower so I can understand you," said Rider softly.

"Okay, well your father, he came to me and gave me this coin," he handed Rider a coin with a cloud on it, "he said you would know what to do with it."

"I have no idea-" but the second Rider put the coin on his next his surroundings disappeared and saw the starry face Uranus again, he said:

"About time Rider." Uranus laughed and a yell in rage erupted around Rider and he fell to the earth again, and a female voice around him taunted,

"You may have taken the power of Uranus, but you are no match against the great Gaea. Luck can not save you young hero!" Then he arrived back in his cabin, shivering on the floor, his skin pink and steaming. Kasper stood over him, frightened out of his mind.

"It's okay Kasper, I'm fine," Rider croaked and tried to sit up.

"What happened to you," squeaked Kasper. "You put on the coin, and-and you just collapsed!"

"I'm fine- no, who am I kidding, I'm not fine... I think, that I just hosted the soul of… the sky."