Rise of the Fallen (4 page)

Secretly Validus dubbed them Niturni the mighty, Cadriel the beautiful, and Persimus the compassionate. And for himself, Validus the least.

“Glad you’re with us,” Persimus offered. “Why don’t we eat, then go? I think the hall will be full before long.”

They entered Symphonic Hall, a theater of perfect acoustical design, and found excellent seats among the fourteen thousand other angels attending the concert. The music of the singers was superb, and Validus enjoyed attending with the three other angels. They seemed at ease with him, which encouraged him greatly.

Over the course of the next few cycles, Validus spent more time with his new friends, although he often felt like he was tagging along. That diminished with time, but he never could completely free himself from the feeling.

It was evident that there was a kindred bond between Persimus and Cadriel. Something in their spirits connected in a way that Validus didn’t understand. It was subtle, and he wondered if Niturni saw it. Niturni’s offer of friendship to Validus was genuine, but Validus could never quite forget the millions of degrees of hierarchal separation between them.

One day, that changed.

Validus met with Niturni, Persimus, and Cadriel near the Hall of Ages, the one place angels were forbidden to enter. Niturni had called them there.

“So what are we doing here?” Cadriel asked.

Niturni’s gaze was not on the hall but on the outer lands beyond the city. “I think we should explore heaven,” he said, sweeping his hand across the vastness of the lands beyond Zion.

“We have,” Persimus replied.

Niturni looked back at the three of them. “Validus hasn’t, and besides, we only ventured a small distance from Zion. Haven’t you wondered what else Elohim has created out there? Think of the wondrous places we found so close to us. What lies beyond?”

“I’m up for it,” Validus offered. “It’s not forbidden,” he added.

At that, Cadriel and Persimus acquiesced.

Niturni looked pleased as he spread his wings. “What are we waiting for?”

He launched into the air, more thrilled than Validus had ever seen him outside of the worship of Elohim.

Validus, Persimus, and Cadriel followed Niturni into the outer lands, exploring mountains, canyons, valleys, and great seas, all jewels of grandeur in their uniqueness. Each discovery seemed to fuel Niturni’s thirst for more.

“There seems to be no end,” Persimus said as they stood atop a knoll
overlooking the most beautiful, lush green valley Validus had ever seen. The gentle curve of the horizon seemed to indicate the sphere of heaven Elohim had mentioned once before.

Niturni stretched out his arms. “It’s invigorating, isn’t it?”

Cadriel stood with his arms crossed. “Yes, it is, but my duty cycle is soon, and we are far from home. It’s time to return.”

Niturni turned; disappointment shadowed his countenance. “Come, just a bit further. Who knows what might lie just beyond this valley.”

Cadriel shook his head. “I’m sorry, Niturni. I must go.” Cadriel shot a glance toward Persimus, then launched into the air and made for Zion.

“We can explore more another time,” Persimus said, then flew to catch up with Cadriel.

“Will you abandon me too?” Niturni asked.

Validus was hungry but still willing. “Lead on.”

Niturni’s smile returned. He launched, spiraling upward first and then swooping down at a dizzying speed into the valley, skimming trees and rocks. Validus tried to follow, but it was difficult. They journeyed farther and farther into the outer lands until Validus began to wonder if they would find their way back to Zion. The expanse of heaven was indeed vast.

Niturni led them to the top of a great mountain that seemed strangely familiar.

“I feel as though I know this mountain,” Validus said.

Niturni looked back from where they had flown.

“Yes. It is odd.”

Validus scanned the horizon, straining to see the distant features of the lands. Then his eyes caught the glimmer. “Look, Niturni, it must be Zion!”

Niturni looked and saw it too. “The sphere of heaven … This is the mountain in the distance we can see from the skywalk. We’ve circumnavigated heaven!”

Validus felt a sense of relief and satisfaction. The journey back would have been very long, and he was beginning to miss the comfort of their familiar city.

They dived and skimmed the jagged edges of the mountain walls, exchanging lead in a game of chase. Validus enjoyed the challenge of it. Niturni seemed to as well. Near the base of the mountain, they arrested their descent and flew above beautiful forested foothills, turning toward Zion. Validus
swished past Niturni, taking a turn at lead. He dodged downward between two groves of trees.

“Wait!” Validus heard Niturni cry out.

Validus pitched up, allowing his wings to capture a full load of still air. He slowed and turned to see Niturni hovering above a narrow clearing in the trees below.

Validus flew toward him. “What is it?”

Except for the sustaining beat of his wings, Niturni seemed frozen, unable to break his gaze from something below. Validus joined him.

There was no need for Niturni to point. Below them was a structure as out of place as a stone among manna. The two angels gently descended, caution and apprehension building the closer they came to it.

They set down a safe distance away.

“What is it?” Validus asked again.

“It looks like a stairway leading … down.”

Validus gawked at the structure. Six ivory columns surrounded a railed marble stairway. Two steps went downward, then disappeared into blackness as thick as water.

“What is down?” Validus asked.

Niturni looked at Validus for the first time. Bewilderment clouded his face, an expression Validus had never seen in the mighty angel. If the One Hundred didn’t know, it was a mystery indeed.

Niturni turned his gaze back to the stairway and approached. He held on to the rail and stepped down onto the first step. Shivers skittered up and down Validus’s spine. Something didn’t seem right.

“I don’t think we should—”

But before he could finish, Niturni stepped down onto the second step. Validus came closer and grabbed the railing. Niturni reached down to touch the blackness.

“Don’t—” Validus started again, but who was he to tell one of the One Hundred what to do?

Niturni’s hand disappeared into the blackness. He yanked it back up, his hand seemingly unharmed. “It’s cold … very cold.”

“Why is it here?” Validus asked.

“I don’t know,” Niturni said, then reached his hand down once more. This
time he reached until his hand seemed to hit something solid—the next step. He pulled his hand back and prepared to step downward with his foot.

“This doesn’t feel right, Niturni. Please don’t do that.”

Niturni looked up. Validus knew that look. It was the same look he had seen just a while ago when Niturni had wanted him to join in exploring heaven further.

“Come, grab my hand and hold on to me. I want to see.”

Validus felt his stomach churn, and he began to tremble. What was this new feeling?

He grabbed Niturni’s arm at the elbow, and the two angels gripped tightly to each other. Validus held on to the rail and stepped down onto the two visible steps as Niturni carefully stepped one … two … three steps down into the blackness. Validus felt Niturni shiver.

“Come up, Niturni. That’s far enough.”

“I want to see. Hang on.”

Validus knelt as Niturni lowered himself farther and farther, until his face was just above the blackness. He glanced up at Validus. Something more than curiosity lit up his face, but Validus didn’t know what to call it.

Then Niturni sank his face into the blackness.

At that very moment it was as if the steps Niturni had been standing on dissolved, and he fell. Validus screamed as Niturni disappeared into the blackness.

Validus lost his grip on the railing and began to fall with Niturni, their arms still locked in a powerful grip. His arm sank into the blackness, and the icy cold instantly flowed upward into his chest. His free hand found one of the spindles of the railing just in time to stop his fall, and he hoped that it would not break.

The jolt caused him to nearly lose his grip on Niturni. His hand slipped from Niturni’s elbow to his forearm and then to his hand. Validus fought against the cold darkness that weakened his grip with every passing moment. He strained at the pull that begged him to fall into the blackness with Niturni.

Validus screamed and pulled upward, straining against the weight of the mighty angel below. He slipped his knee into a better position, giving him
greater leverage, then fought the pain of the cold and began to lift Niturni. Inch by agonizing inch he pulled Niturni up until he could stand and get a better grip on the rail.

He lifted Niturni until his friend’s head and torso emerged out of the blackness. He felt Niturni’s grip relax, threatening to undo all his effort in a moment. Validus risked letting go of the rail and grabbed Niturni’s forearm with his other hand. He heaved up and back with all his might until Niturni was able to get his legs underneath him. It seemed as though his strength was nearly gone.

Finally Niturni was clear of the blackness. He crawled with great heaviness up the two visible steps and tried to stand, but he could only get his knees beneath him. His head hung low.

Validus loosened his grip and came to his friend’s side. He put an arm across Niturni’s shoulders. “Are you all right?”

Niturni was breathing hard and shivering uncontrollably. He lifted a heavy head, but his strength seemed to be returning. “So cold … so dark!”

Validus looked back at the darkness, then to Niturni. “What did you see?”

Niturni shook his head. “Utter blackness.” He looked up at Validus, and that same look was in his eyes as before, except magnified a hundred times. He grabbed Validus’s arm. “Thank you … thank you for saving me!”

Validus nodded and helped Niturni stand. He hung on to Validus’s arm, steadying himself.

“Had you let go, I think I would have perished forever,” Niturni said as he glanced back at the blackness. “I don’t think we should tell anyone about this place.”

“There are no secrets kept from Elohim,” Validus said.

“Yes, of course, but perhaps the other angels aren’t supposed to know.”

Validus considered Niturni’s words and nodded. “Very well. Are you able to fly?”

Niturni slowly nodded but then grabbed Validus’s arm once more. “You are … a brother.”

Since that day, Validus thought often of the frightening encounter with the blackness. What it was, he didn’t know, but he did know that the experience had changed his relationship with Niturni. Gone was the chasm of
hierarchal separation; gone was the barrier to a deep friendship. It had knit their spirits together in a bond of brotherhood, and it seemed to translate into Validus’s friendship with Persimus and Cadriel as well.

The more time the four angels spent together, the stronger their friendship grew. They became nearly inseparable, and their bond of brotherhood brought a level of joy that few other angels seemed to experience.

3
 

4004 BC

The next time Validus was called before Elohim, the encounter with the blackness of the stairway would not leave his mind.

“My Lord, Niturni and I saw something in the outer lands of heaven that has perplexed me,” he began.

Elohim’s gaze penetrated Validus’s soul with love. “What is it, Validus? What has troubled you?”

Validus realized that he was indeed more troubled than perplexed. “We discovered a stairway filled with blackness. It was cold and empty. What is it, my Lord? Where does it lead, and what is below heaven?”

The warm glow of Elohim’s smile settled his soul with peace. “Tomorrow, Lucifer will gather all the angels of heaven at the shores of the Crystal Sea. There you will see what is below heaven. Do not be troubled.”

The words of Elohim comforted Validus. He had wondered if their discovery and encounter with the blackness might have displeased Elohim. Validus shared the words of Elohim with Niturni, and he too was greatly relieved. They looked forward to the gathering with great anticipation.

At the appointed time, the entire host of heaven gathered around the Crystal Sea. Validus, Niturni, Cadriel, and Persimus stood together. The sea was as still as glass, reflecting the beauty of the sky and the images of millions of angels.
Ben Elohim, the Son of God
, descended from the Holy Mount and hovered over the middle of the sea. From the first to the last, all looked on with great anticipation as their Creator lifted His hands.

“Behold!”

In an instant, the sea turned to utter blackness, and the angels stepped back from the abyss of darkness, startled.

“It’s the same blackness, Niturni, like the stairway,” Validus whispered.

Niturni reached down to touch it, but before he could, Ben Elohim stretched out His hand, and the blackness faded away to an image of beginnings. The sea became a portal through which the angels could view the hand of God as He began to create another realm.