All Chapters of Rejected and Claimed : Chapter 211 - Chapter 220

~Carmen~ Since the day I had my first period at the ripe age of fifteen, it has been drilled into my head that I must not lust after any man. Whatever I do, I must remain a virgin until the sect finds a befitting husband for me. A husband who can manage my curse. Glancing down at myself, I take in my own body as if it has betrayed me. My skin is glistening with moisture, and my top is damp, its faded blue fabric clinging to my breasts. My shorts and panties are nowhere to be found. I’m utterly bare and exposed. Squeezing my eyes shut, I choke back and swallow my mortification. I feel tainted, wanton, dirty, weak. I gave a man access to my body in my dreams, and now I don't think I'm capable of shutting him out if he ever comes to me again. Even now that I'm scared to bits, it's still surprising that I can't stop thinking of his face and stormy blue eyes. The image of him in my head is a little blurred and faded from the dream, but his beauty is so powerful, so utterly soul-s

~Carmen~ Something is out of place at the sect. It's only a hunch, yet it feels so true. Mistress Adriana and her husband had to hurriedly leave for the sect building after the event of the morning and in less than an hour, they called the house phone and requested that I hurry down to the sect building at once. I asked Marielle if she would love to come with me, and she glared at me as if I was out of my mind. So, I left her alone at home and hurried away. Walking out the front door, the sun hits my face at full force with no filter of its strength, throwing me off balance. My head spins, and I have to concentrate all of my focus on not stumbling forward like a drunk who’s been up all night drinking. The sun hasn’t always affected me like this. I mean, the sun and I haven’t been getting along since I hit puberty, but it has definitely been growing worse over the past few weeks. I figure most of it is because I’ve spent the last few years of my life cooped up behind four w

~Carmen~ Lips pressing together in a thin line, Matron Theresa looks over at me before admitting to elder Felix, "You're right, but I think-" "What you think is irrelevant," Elder Felix says dismissively. Her cheeks flushing with color from frustration, Matron Theresa turns fully toward me and away from him. "Cam, you don’t have to do this tonight. I assure you, your life will not be threatened, and your curse will not get worse either." Elder Felix makes a sound of disgust. "How sure you are, and how quick you are to lead her to her death." Matron Theresa flinches at the remark, and I instantly feel guilty that she’s trying to stick up for me again. Especially because in this situation it is not needed. Elder Felix might be right on this one. If my curse really attracts these creatures, and with the recent attack on other foster homes, it's only right that I perform my cleansing to prevent them from getting a scent of my cursed mark. I need to do it because it might be m

~Carmen~ My eyes frantically scan the area around me as I’m all too aware of little things that would usually escape my attention on a normal day; like the buzz seemingly coming from every street lamp, the rotting stench wafting out of every garbage can. And the rats scurrying between the buildings, feeding, fighting, and mating. It gets weirder when I start hearing sounds that mimic people's heartbeats. The sounds get louder when I pass someone on the walkway. They tap in my ears like soft, steady drumbeats, frightening the hell out of me at because I don't understand how and why I could suddenly hear people's heartbeat. Maybe it is because of all the adrenaline pumping through me. But the feeling of fright eventually turns comforting. I manage to avoid thinking about all the strangeness happening since today, focusing on just being alert and aware of my surroundings until I cross the street and reach the other side quickly... too quickly. Again, I have the strange, unnervin

~Carmen~It will literally take a miracle to get both Marielle and me out of this in one piece. Reaching into my spread blouse, Dargo hooks his finger on the chain of the necklace that Matron Theresa once gifted me.A necklace that is now a vital part of me. He smirks as he lifts its small pendant, examining it. Then he yanks on the chain causing a link to snap. Glancing down at the necklace, his fingers caress around the pendant before flicking his eyes back up to me. "I'll keep this as a souvenir." He tells me.Without warning, my head spins, and it feels like time slipped away from me again as my back is slammed hard against a wall. It happened so quickly that it took me a few breaths to realize Dargo must have moved us across the room. "Show it to me." He says and I stare at him, pretending like I don't already know what he's asking for. His request causes my heart to beat harder and faster. Bracing his arm against the wall, his face lowers until he’s nearly kissing me. "