Rise of the Fallen Read Online Free PDF Page A

unfathomable.”
    “He
turned, and what has happened to him?” Niturni looked straight into Validus’s eyes. “Nothing. In fact, he is more powerful than he was before.”
    Validus watched Niturni’s pale-blue eyes darken to a dull gray, then to black. Validus swallowed and stepped back. Niturni smiled in a way that frightened Validus.
    “What’s happening to you, Niturni? You look different.”
    “I feel different. It’s wonderful!” Niturni looked up to the sky and held his hands in the air. “Join me, brother, and together we will rule heaven and earth with Lucifer!”
    “Stop, Niturni … stop now before it’s too late!”
    Niturni laughed and spread his wings, now dark and gray. “Join us, Validus! The time has come! There’s room in our realm for even the least of the angels!” His wings pounded the air as his words cut deeply into Validus’s heart. Niturni’s scowling laughter lingered behind to taunt Validus as he flew away.
    Validus fell to his knees. What horror had come to heaven? What abominable, unthinkable horror had filled the hearts of Elohim’s holy angels?
    The sky darkened, and at first Validus thought it was just the cloud of his despair, but it was much more than that—much, much more. Overhead, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of dark-winged angels filled the skies above Zion.
    Terror filled Validus. Had they all followed Lucifer?
    Validus did not take flight for fear of being attacked. He ran. He ran as he had never run before. The push of the ground seemed the only unchangeable thing in heaven, and it gave him a shred of comfort. He ran with the speed of a panther to the borders of Zion, hoping, pleading that he was not alone. What of Cadriel, of Persimus? Had they turned too? Would he be alone?
    He entered the city and searched its streets in desperation. Near the terrace that overlooked the River of Life, an angel looked up at the exodus of darkness. Validus ran to him and grabbed him.
    “What’s happening?” he pleaded.
    The angel lowered his gaze, numb with sadness. His eyes brimmed with water … the first tears of heaven.
    “Look, Lucifer leads them.” The angel pointed upward.
    Validus looked up, and through the swarm of exiting angels he could see the powerful, dark form of the mightiest of all angels hovering … commanding … leading the revolt against Elohim. Validus wanted to hide. He hadalways felt a fearful respect of Elohim’s most powerful angel, but now he felt a fear that was different. It was dark, ominous, and dreadful.
    Validus ran, searching for Cadriel and Persimus. The farther he ran into the city, the more he dared to hope for his friends, for he saw more and more angels untouched by Lucifer’s plot.
    He ran to Cadriel’s abode, but he was not there. Then to Persimus’s, but it too was empty. His own eyes began to fill with tears.
    He ran into the street and noticed that many angels were moving to the center of Zion, to the place of assurance, the Holy Mount of Elohim. He went too, calling for his friends. The angels still luminescent and holy gathered at the foot of the Holy Mount, near the Court of Presentation.
    “Cadriel! Persimus!” he called, searching the faces of hundreds of thousands of angels.
    “Validus!” The call was weak but familiar.
    He turned and pushed through the other angels.
    “Validus—over here!” The voice of Persimus.
    Validus’s soul erupted with joy, and tears spilled from his eyes. He ran to his friends, and they embraced.
    “Where is Niturni?” Cadriel asked, looking behind Validus.
    Validus lowered his head, unable to speak the words.
    “No,” Persimus whispered. “No!” he shouted. He fell to his knees, and Validus joined him. Cadriel knelt down and placed an arm on each of their shoulders.
    “Though they rise, they have fallen,” Cadriel said.
    “They have fallen indeed!” The powerful, deep voice of Michael filled the air around them. Validus looked up at the archangel hovering above