Free 3 Dark Energy by John O'Riley

prevent this from happening. He stared at his attacker as he struggled to come up with some plan of attack. He had three niveus imperium enchantments that he’d created with pure white magic but they were primarily used for cures. Unfortunately, Mark wouldn’t be able to grab them unless he dropped his shield and he wasn’t sure he’d have enough time to do that without getting himself killed.
    The assailant bellowed with rage and smashed his fists against Mark’s shield over and over. Mark tensed up and renewed anxiety made all strategic thoughts evaporate from his mind. After a moment, the curse crossed the room and picked up one of the bookcases. The creature hurled it across the room and watched it break into pieces against the shield. Books and knickknacks that had previously occupied the case scattered across the Terrazzo floor amid the splintered wood. The white field of energy around Mark remained strong and steady. The curse ran over to Mark and smashed his fists repeatedly against the protection. After another long moment, the assailant stopped and left the house. Mark rushed over to the window and watched the assailant march down the driveway. The man exploded into a black cloud and an instant later transformed into a large black crow and soared into the air.
    Mark dropped his shield and went to his room to retrieve the three large quartz clusters containing claro mentis enchantments which he kept in a large, blue satchel. It was obvious that since the curse had left the house, it must have a secondary target. Mark placed a call to Josephine.
    “Hey, Mark. What’s up?” Josephine said.
    “I was just attacked by a construo letalis curse,” Mark said.
    “Are you all right?” she asked.
    “I’m fine. It couldn’t get past my shield but I’m worried you might be its secondary target.”
    “You’re right. I fought one of them off already. I think it’s the Valituras.”
    “Why would they want to kill us?” Mark asked.
    “They’re after me. I think I’ve caused them too much trouble. The only reason you’re in danger is because they know you’re my boyfriend.”
    “You need to get somewhere safe. Your garden is enchanted with white magic. That should disintegrate any curse.”
    “That’s how I got rid of the first one,” Josephine said. “I’m with Alex and Jake. We’re on the way back to the police station.”
    “Maybe you should get back to your garden,” Mark suggested.
    “It took a few minutes for the curse to be destroyed. It almost killed me in there,” Josephine said. “My best bet is to retrieve some of the niveus imperiums at the police station.”
    “White magic is the only thing strong enough to work,” Mark protested.
    “I’m not willing to hang out in the garden. I’ve got to go. Talk to you later.”
    “Josephine, the police station isn’t safe.”
    Mark realized she’d already ended the call. He shoved his phone back into his pants pocket and activated one of the three teleportation pendants he always wore. He materialized in the parking lot of the police station. He took stock of his surroundings and saw no sign of the construo letalis curse. Mark tapped into the light energy streaming around him and scanned the perimeter. After a few moments, he sensed the dark energy of the attacker closing in and Josephine approaching. Mark turned to gaze in that direction. A black crow dove at the police car about a block away as it sped towards the station. The bird exploded into black smoke as it struck against the hood of the car and transformed back to its previous form of the tall muscular man with the shaved head. He clung to the vehicle with one hand while smashing his fist into the windshield with his other. A myriad of cracks exploded across the surface of the glass. Without hesitation, the curse pulled back and slammed his fist again. The car swerved back and forth but the driver, Jake, managed to stay on the road. When the creature hit the windshield yet again,