Short stories of powerful, avengeful women series

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was that I wasn’t in my house.  It was a dark room, but I could still see the tight rope around my wrists. I felt dizzy and exhausted. My eyes were droopy, but I knew something was very wrong. I felt the uneasiness travel around my body, trailing goose bumps on my arms. I struggled to get up because of the rope, but once I did I saw there was a door to the far right side of the room. As I started limping to it, a heavy hand pushed me toward the ground. I landed with a hard thump. My body was in pain again, tears stinging my eyes. I couldn’t see what had caused such an impact. My head was throbbing, and my throat was dry. “What are you doing standing, child?”, the rough voice said. It sounded male and husky.  Another impact hit my cheek. I gasped. I opened my eyes to glare at the stranger before I realized who it was. Jared. He prepared to throw another punch, but I rolled across the floor. My head hit the wall hard, but I steadied myself. I stood up, almost falling again. I found my strength. I clasped my hands together, then quickly parted them. Bits of rope fell on the floor. My hands were free. I narrowed my eyes at him, then yelled “What do you want? I have already forgotten about you. You’re a worthless man who marries for benefit.” He grimaced at that. “You are no one to say that Johanna, your pretty face sleeps so soundly I managed to kidnap you without any trouble. You’re weak without me. Admit it.”  I reached for my sword, my hand wandering down my vacant side. “If you’re looking for your frail weapon, it’s right here”, he says, tapping my scabbard. It was on his left hip. His sword was trailing his back. I was defenseless. I glared at him. “Don’t look at me like that, princess. You know you have no chance against me without your ‘invincible’ sword”, he taunted. Now I remember why I broke up with this man. “His name is Excalibur!”, I yelled as I launched myself at him, but I was too far and he swiftly moved. I landed on the floor. My head and wrists throbbed more. “Amazing plan, Johanna! Now you’re back on the floor. Congratulations”, he clapped his hands. The sarcasm was heavy on his tongue. I rolled my eyes. I still had the advantage because I had touched my sword. I raised my hands, and chanted,  “You are mine! Mine to hold, come to me, Excalibur.”  Quicker than a hare, my sword appeared in my hands. His expression changed. I smiled, the sword had transferred energy to me and lifted me from the ground. I was floating now. “Oh, I forgot to mention…” I raised my sword in preparation to strike. “I perfected the summoning of Excalibur. Amazing you were the first to witness it.” He appeared frightened, but I saw his hands reaching for his sword. I felt the blood racing through my veins as I thrust my hips forward. The air rushed past me, and suddenly it was a Godly sword against a metal one. Excalibur breaks his sword in half, and pieces of it pierce through his skin. He yelps in pain as one falls in his eye. I drop my sword and force the metal deeper into his pupil. His eye is bloody, and he’s collapsed on the floor. His body goes rigid. At first, I think I’ve killed him until his chest rises and his other eye is examining my empty hands. The corners of his mouth rise into a toothless smile. I know he’s still in pain, but he won’t show it. His fists are clenched. I reach for Excalibur, but he’s not there. I turn back to Jared. He c***s his head, ”Looking for something, princess?” He’s standing now, one hand covering his bleeding eye, and the other has my sword. How is he not dead? I get the shattered pieces of his sword and quickly tie them with the rope that was around my wrists. You’re moving too slow, my brain reminds me. I step back before realizing the obvious. I drop what I’ve made of the other sword. It rattles as it shatters against the metal floor. “Do you have a death wish or are you surrendering to me?”, he says.  “I will never cede to you”, I gasp. Colorful bubbles are starting to cloud my vision. He raises Excalibur over his head and tries to bash me.  I feel when the sword hits my skull, but I recognize no pain. It is a mere tingle. “Wh-What?”, he asks. His surprise is evident in his voice. “Another thing to know about my sword”, I say. “It would never go against its worthy owner.”  “You say that as if your sword has its own mind!”, he mocks. I grin. “It’s because he does.”  At that, my sword rotates and stabs Jared in the heart. He collapses again on the floor. Blood drips out of his shirt. I walk over to him, grabbing Excalibur with my hands. My robe is trailing my feet on the floor. I grasp the handle and thrust the sword deeper into him. I stab him multiple times, rejoicing at the blood pouring out of him and the prickling sound it makes. He’s dead now. I examine him a bit, then kick his chest with my bare foot.  I managed to reach the door I had seen when I woke up. I twisted the knob and walked out. Excalibur was floating beside me, its metal shining brighter than the sun. I grabbed him and licked Jared’s blood off it. It tasted bitter but delightful to my tongue. I send Excalibur back to his realm. I walk across a narrow hallway, then find the exit. The sun burns my eyes, and I realize the many bruises on my face and the cuts trailing my arms. I pass out.