Nevermore, Raven

Black And White

  Minutes were passing by as I found myself standing in front of the main entrance, lost in thoughts.
  I didn't even notice when something flew next to me. I gained my consciousness again and quickly lifted my eyes, to see a beautiful, coal-black crow, which sat down on a handrail of the porch. He seemed to stare at me too, twisting his head on the side, so one of his eyes could meet mine.

- Hello mister crow. - I said politely with a smile. I always tended to talk to animals, that's one of many wierd things that I learned during my childhood here, in Lavender Hill.

I slowly reached my hand to the bird, not to scare him, but to see if he doesn't fly away if I try to pat him. But instead, my new friend turned his head again, glancing at me with his second eye, what made me take the hand back.
  My smile quickly faded away when I noticed a long scar going through his head, crossing a white eye. It was sad for me that such a beautiful animal was hurt in that way.

  - Who could do something like this to you? - I whispered, feeling sorry for the crow. To my surprise, the answear came quicker than I could expect.

  Suddenly, the front door swung wide open, almost hitting the walls. I jumped in fear and turned my head to see who am I going to confrontate.

  It was a tall, young boy, maybe even in my age. He was wearing white shirt and black trousers, perfectly matching his dark, long hair, tied up in a short ponytail with a red ribbon. His pale face twisted in anger and frustration.

  - Begone, you little thief! Begone! - The man began to yell, swinging a wooden broom in his hands. My confusion has quickly gone away as I realised that the target wasn't me, but the bird, which also began to flap his winds and scream at the opponent. Finally, the crow flew away, avoid getting hit by the broom.

  I was staring at the animal, as it was flew away to the forest. I was about to ask why did he do that, but as soon as I glanced at the stranger and opened my mouth, someone prevented me again.

  - Octavian! - Shouted another boy, pushing him aside and stepping out of the mansion.

  He looked very similar to his friend - the, same clothes, the same height, the same ponytail length, the same red ribbon... But his hair - literally white.

- How dare you behave like that in front of our guest?! - Continued the white butler. They both turned their eyes on me in the same time, making my cheeks heat up in red.
Oh, well... My time has come I guess.

  - Please, mercy me, miss... - The black-haired man tried to apologize politely, but cut up in the middle, not sure who I actually was.

-... Miss Nadia. - Finished another voice, from behind them. Both of the boys quickly turned back and moved away in silence, to let the third person walk outside.

  A smile appeared on my face and the eyes filled with tears, as I recognized the woman standing among the boys. Wrinkled face, also smiling at me made my heart go faster. Good, old aunt Philin, didn't change at all.

- Welcome back, Nadyika...