I was abandoned in front of an orphanage run by nuns barely a few hours of being alive. Unlike my previous life, I was born in the dead of winter. My cries brought the nuns. Or at least, that what they tell me. You can be immortal and all powerful, but reincarnation isn't easy. It still has it's rules.
I remember my mother's face. She had my eyes and my hair. Her face was caked in makeup. I don't know why she abandoned me. Not really. There's no point in dwelling on it anyway. Or at least, that's what was the case until she knocked on the door two weeks ago.
"I...really don't wanna deal with her." I grumble as I eat breakfast.
"Yeah. I know how you feel. But, it's that or unnecessary attention, kiddo." Father says. He adopted me on my tenth birthday after struggling for eight years after he and his wife, Lily, met me for the first time. Father is in no shape or form your typical parent. For starters, he's an orc. AND a war veteran. Hell, so was Mother.
Father, Benjamin Jones, is a ten foot something orc in his prime years. Since orcs age differently, he'd technically be in his midtwenties even though he's been around since before my reincarnation. He doesn't know who I was before. Especially considering that he and Mother fought in the War of Faith, a war that erupted after I died. Lily, my mother, was a 7 foot something orc who demanded attention with her presence alone. As far as I'm aware, she's the best mother I've ever had.
"Yeah.... I know..." I look over at Mother's picture. She died three years ago. It crushed Father and I. She had shrapnel near her heart, which slowly made its way in until it killed her. I found her first...
"She's not replacing her, Jane..." Father says, noticing. He walks over, setting a huge stack of pancakes in front of me. He kisses the top of my head.
"I know! I know. I just— I miss her... Jenna Lee appearing out of nowhere's suspicious..."
"True. Who knows why she randomly appeared. But, I'm not gonna ruin your breakfast anymore. Eat up, you have school." I nod. It's just been Father and I for the last two years since Mother died. We refuse to cry. But we still hold each other.
"Okay." I eat. Father smiles as he sits across from me. He snaps a camera out and takes a picture of me the moment I fill my mouth with pancakes. He giggles mischievously, watching as the picture slides out of the top. He starts laughing loudly as I swallow my food.
"Awwwweeee... Best one yet!" He shows me the picture. My bright purple eyes stare at the camera in surprise, my long black hair emphasizing how much I look like a chipmunk. I groan.
"Whyyyyyy?"
"You're growing up quick." He starts eating. I sigh, nodding. Orcs eat a lot. Typically, werewolves do, too. My biological dad turned out to be a werewolf. I don't know who yet. And frankly, I don't care. Not that it matters considering that I burn through my energy. In short, what is considered a feast for humans is just a regular meal to my father and I. I genuinely don't know how father manages to pay for groceries.
"Five minutes."
"Shit!" I jump up, running upstairs to get my stuff.
"Language!" Father yells after me. I hurry up, jumping over the side of the stair rail.
"Sorry!" I run up to him, kissing his cheek and hugging him. He hugs back.
"Take care, my Little Archangel."
"You too, Father." I run out the door. I run out of sight, flying out seconds later. I fly high enough that no one can see my face. I frown. I hate keeping secrets from Father. But when he found out about the contract with the Institute, he was furious. Not with me, but for an orc as calm and gently as him, it's genuinely scary.
The Institute is a government funded organization of assassins. It's caught between the FBI and military. We're more like mercenaries though. The Institute specializes in taking orphans and training them to be killing machines so that orphans have a purpose. It's bullshit. But a kid who just wants a purpose doesn't think twice.
I was five when I joined. Twen years later, I have four years left to serve. I'm the highest rank known as the Elite rank. Said rank only has three. Never any more. There's 18 ranks total. It's complex and can be confusing. But the end point is that it's brutal. Most kids meet their deaths on their first missions.
I land a few blocks away from school. I tuck in my wings and walk the rest of the way. Humans are odd. Their patterns and behaviors have become a cycle despite the generations passing by.
"Jane!" I pause, looking over as a tall orc runs over to me. She smiles widely, her bright pink hair bobbing in their thick braids. She's a lean girl with quite the looks. Her bright hazel eyes and full lips tend to make boys fall head over heels for her.
"What is it?"
"Jessica and I have a surprise for you later at lunch! Don't get the school lunch!" Laura says. I raise an eyebrow as we walk.
"Okay.... Should I be concerned or excited?"
"You'll see!" She responds cheerfully. Laura isn't good at keeping secrets no matter how much she tries, so she just usually beats around the bush. I sigh.
"Fine." Laura giggles triumphantly and runs off to her first class. I go to my own, frowning. When they plan something and don't tell me something, it's not until the last minute. If that's the case, it's usually something I'd have to talk them out of.
I look at my phone hours later, groaning. I head to the back exit, already preparing my speech. I pass everyone going to lunch, looking around before getting out. I find Jessica and Laura waiting for me.
Jessica is a short human girl with long auburn hair and green eyes. She's an elf. Her delicate features and beautiful appearance attracts attention rightfully so. Jessica knows and basks in it. In truth, she's the worst influence among the three of us. Then again, her body count is reliant on getting laid. Mine is reliant on deaths.
"The hell did you two plan?" I ask the moment I reach them.
"A little something. Let's go." Jessica runs to the student parking lot where her car's at. Laura follows with me purposely being slow, hoping we get caught. No dice. I try to get in the backdeat, but Jessica stops me.
"What now?"
"You're driving." She declared, tossing me the keys. I catch them.
"Is this your way of appeasing me?"
"Yep!" She gets into the back. I sigh, getting into the driver's seat.
"You do realize I don't have—"
"You do! Your dad told us." Laura says. I put on my seatbelt, shaking my head.
"Put some fucking music on, idiots." The two giggle as I bring the car to life and get us off of campus.
"Head to the ice cream shop." Jessica instructs as Laura selects a playlist.
"Out of all places..." I grumble.
"Hey! You'll see!" Shaking my head, I drive to the ice cream shop, which is approximately ten or so minutes away.
"Oh, oh, oh! They're here already!" Laura bounces happily the moment we pull up. I park, locking the doors before they get the chance to get out.
"Who is?" I demand.
"Don't worry about it! Now, open the door!" Jessica whines. I unlock the doors, killing the engine and getting out. I toss the keys back to Jessica as we go in. The two ignore the counter as they make a beeline to a table. I shake my head, ordering for them.
"Jane! Hurry up and get over here!" Jessica yells. I walk over, freezing when I see the three guys sitting across from Laura and Jessica.
"You gotta be kidding me." I growl. Both girls shrink a bit. Two of the boys are unfazed. The other laughs nervously.
"Just sit! Please?" Laura pats the empty spots beside her. I sit, glaring at the guy across from me. He glares back, tilting his head. The second guy seems older and a lot calmer. I frown, allowing Laura to chat away.
"I knew you weren't into dating and stuff. So, I thought about a triple date."
"Are you fucking crazy?" I glare at Laura.
"I'd have to ask the same question. You seem to have lied about your third friend." The first guy says. He has short black hair, blue eyes, and caramel brown skin. He's dressed like he just woke up in the back alley of some store. The second guy is more well kept. He pushed his glasses up, avoiding eye contact with only me. He has long black hair tied loosely back and grey eyes. He'd a bit paler than the first guy.
"She is just not a trusting person. She usually keeps us outta trouble!" Jessica says, ignoring me.
"Seems understandable enough." The second guy says.
"Wade's the same way." The third guys says, pointing to the second guy. The third guy is a red headed boy with freckles and vitiligo. Laura is eyeing him currently since he does look like a little elf bad boy.
"Seriously?" Wade grumbles.
"You seem nice though!" Jessica tries.
"Expect breakfast and cookies with him." The first guy says, earning a smack. I smile a bit. Wade blinks with the other guy. The two look at each other while the red head and Laura flirt.
"Yep. Eighteen and a bodyguard." He stated.
"My guess is you're strong, Astral..." Laura reaches to feel his muscles. I frown, moving back as the waiter brings what I ordered.
"Uh... What about them?" Laura asks.
"I don't know them. Therefore, they can order what they want." I grab my iced coffee, frowning.
"True. So, why don't we just share?" The first guy reaches over.
"Alastor—" Wade groans as Alastor takes my drink and drinks from it, smiling at me.
"Oh....boy..." Jessica mutters. Laura laughs nervously.
"Jane?" My phone rings before I can say anything. I take it out and look at it.
"Aaaand my aunt's calling. Thanks a lot, Laura." I stand, walking out.
"What did I do now?!" She yells after me.
"If you're going to fuck around, leaving Jessica and I out of it!" I snap, storming out. I take a deep breath, answering the phone.
"So, you skip school now?" Aunt Vee asks, sounding more like a statement. Aunt Vee works in the Institute. She's my father's older sister. Man is she a pain in the ass.
"Yeah. First and last." I respond.
"Jane, you bitch!" I turn, groaning as I see Laura storm over.
"You have a mission. I'll send you the information. Get yourself better friends." With that, she hangs up.
"Not now, Lau—" Laura slaps me as hard as she can. I blinks, surprised. Now what got into this little shit?!
"I let you boss us around, degrade us, ruin the fun for us and I never say anything! But now, you crossed a line! You're supposed to my friend!" Oh. The dramatics for attention.
"I don't have time for this." I start walking off. I ignore the fact that Jessica and the three strangers are now watching.
"That's it? Just push everybody away and it's suddenly okay?!"
"Have fun." I morph into a giant wolf with black fur, running off.
"Jane! JANE! YOU BITCH!" Laura yells after me. I ignore her, quickly running out of sight. Once I'm out of sight, I morph and start flying, summoning my mask and work clothes on. This is gonna be hell.