Cress woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her door and the wind whistling merrily. Normally this would've been welcomed by Cress who loved to imagine her world as a fairy tale. But for the first time Cress found the birdsong bitter and the wind harsh. Diving deeper into her goose down blankets she tried to get back to sleep.
The world had other plans. Right then the girl with electric blue braids and kaleidoscope eyes burst into her room without bothering with such trivial things as knocking. Cress could have sworn she had a heart attack. Flinging off her many comforters and sheets (at least the Montgomery's had nice bedding) Cress lept into action her heart pounding.
"Fire?" Cress asked her voice still groggy in the morning.
"No silly! I just wanted to say hi! It is so exciting to meet someone new! With such a big house you would imagine there would be more people living here than the three Montgomery's." Cress' heart sank at the mention of the other members of the household. She hadn't even met Julian's parents yet, and she could only imagine what kind of people would raise a monster like him.
"Sorry if I startled you. Cinder always says that I am always a bit to eager when meeting new people!" The girl chirped as she closed the mahogany door behind her.
"Oh um, no th-that's fine I should probably be getting up anyway." Cress stammered already feeling awkward. She quickly rubbed the sleep from her eyes and straightened her back hoping her long hair wasn't hopelessly tangled. She fidgeted with them hem of her nightgown trying to think of something else to say. Cress had never really had many friends and as a result she never mastered the art of small talk.
"Oh wonderful I didn't want my first impression to be something bad! I guess we did meet last night but neither of us got to really talk, so I don't think that really should count." The girl pressed on laughing as she spoke. Cress relaxed her shoulders this girl seemed nice and probably wouldn't be to judge mental. Cress could even hope that they would become friends.
"Yes last night wasn't very talkative I have to agree I hate to have to ask again but what is your name? For some reason I don't think it Kokko." Cress joked feeling more and more at ease.
"Oh yes my name is Iko! I have to say I was disappointed when Mr. Montgomery didn't remember but that doesn't matter, anyways I only started working here a week ago. I probably wouldn't have gotten the job at all but since I already knew Cinder it gave me a leg up." Iko said her smile was bright and didn't waver as she spoke. It amazed Cress that someone could smile for so long without even resting their face muscles.
"Oh well hi Iko. Um, my name is Crescent Moon as Julian said but I would prefer if you would just call me Cress, I think Crescent Moon is a bit much." Cress responded suddenly very glad that Iko had burst into her room.
"Well I didn't just come here to say hello although that was definitely a plus, I also have to tell you that the Montgomery family would like to meet you for breakfast in 30 minutes. I am supposed to show you the way to the dinning room." Iko explained.
Cress' stomach did back flips when she heard this. She was hoping that in some miracle she would never really have to interact with the senior Montgomery's, that somehow she could just spend her days passing by unnoticed. Cress had never thought that they might eat meals together and there really wasn't a way to get out of that.
Her heart raced like a herd of stallions as Cress thought of all the possible things that could go wrong. She would break the priceless antique egg holder, she would spill her water onto the table or worse yet on the Montgomery's, and most likely Julian would make some air headed comment and make the rest of the meal tense.
"Ah um, okay. I will just freshen up a bit and be ready in five." Cress croaked having a hard time finding her voice. Iko nodded and walked out the door closing it behind her. Cress stood still for a moment scared to breathe the only noise was her heart slamming against her rib cage and then as if some flipped a switch she rushed to her closet.
Pawing through her clothing Cress tried to find the ideal outfit something that she would feel comfortable in and all the Montgomery's would approve of. Sadly Cress had only met Julian and Cress didn't own any loud Hawaiian shirts, khaki shorts, berks, and socks. Instead, Cress settled for a simple gray cotton dress.
Smoothing out the wrinkles in the skirt of the dress Cress calmed down. Sure they might be horrible, but they were still people, Cress would just have to think of a few polite things to say and let someone else carry the conversation. She slipped into low rise wedges that would make Cress close to a normal height. Once upon a time Cress had actually been viewed as tall until suddenly she just stopped growing in 6th grade.
Cress pushed the memory away and how all the other kids had teased her. They all joked where did last five inches of her height go? Cress shook her hair loose and looked in the mirror. Okay so her head did look like a rats nest but it wasn't something that Cress couldn't handle. She quickly smoothed it down and did a simple braid down her back. Checking to make sure she hadn't for got anything important (one time she had forgotten to put on shoes) Cress opened her bed room door.
"Stars! You got ready fast!" Iko yelped wheeling around.
"I was five minutes like I told you." Cress explained suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"I know that what you said but usually when I say five minutes it translates to thirty minutes." Iko said making Cress laugh. "Hey, it takes a long time to make my face look this perfect. I can't be rushed!"
"I will have to trust you on that." Cress said smiling an Iko's contagious positivity.
"Of course you trust me! Anyway, I just show you through this hallway the door on the left leads right to the dining room—well the one for breakfasts." Iko lead Cress through yet another marble decorated hallway but surprisingly with potted plants hanging from the ceiling as decoration.
Cress had to admit that the Montgomery family had a lot of originality when it came to decor. She wished the walk was longer to the dining room but much too soon Iko was leaving Cress to face the music. Taking a deep breath she pushed open the white door.
Sitting around a small circular table were the three Montgomery's. There first was Julian lounging in his chair with a bored look on his face. Then Cress saw the two older Montgomery's of course they didn't look older. Probably with paying billions of dollars of plastic surgery Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery didn't look a day over 34. Mr. Montgomery was strikingly handsome with a chilled jaw and thick brown hair. His eyes though looked dead as if there was nothing in the world that could please him.
But Mrs. Montgomery was far more intimidating. Her hair was a rich honey color and cascaded down in perfect waves. She had a heart shaped face with a rosy complexion. Her lips were like rose petals and her smile was cold. Her eyebrows were so thin and perfect they were hard to see, and she had blue eyes that looked so hardened it made Cress tremble.
Cress slowly walked to the empty chair next to Julian. The place was already set with food waiting for her. She prayed that her stomach wouldn't grumble and embarrass her. No one said a word to her entrance. As Cress walked her footsteps rang out in the house making the silence all the more intense. Cress lightly sat down but positioned her body so it would be easy a quick to get up and flee. About 40 seconds passed before anyone spoke.
"I am sorry if I was late." Cress squeaked out. Silence.
"The food looks lovely." Cress tried again. More silence.
"You have a beautiful home." Cress said desperately. Ultimate silence.
Cress looked down at her food the smell so overpowering she had trouble not fitting the whole plate in her mouth. Except no one else at the table was eating and so with all the will power she possessed Cress resisted the perfect scrambled eggs. Cress risked a glance at everyone else seated at the table their faces betrayed nothing. Even Julian had no expression. Eventually when it got to the point Cress was considering breaking her glass to make them talk Mrs. Montgomery spoke.
"So Crescent Moon. Darling. My boy Julian is very special to me. What makes you think you are the best candidate for his marriage." Mrs. Montgomery pursed her lips when she was done talking looking expectantly at Cress. For a second Cress' mind was blank. What was going on? And then it clicked they were interviewing her. The thought made Cress shiver Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery saw this as a job of sorts and this was the interview.
"We know that your Aunt Sybil is high of rank meaning you are an acceptable candidate. But why should we chose you? What will make this arrangement special?" Mrs. Montgomery spoke in a soothing tone that made Cress' throat go dry. She didn't even want to have breakfast with the family much less marry into it. And know because of her Aunt she would have to sit through a marital interrogation?
"Um, I am sorry Mrs. Montgomery I am not sure I understand what you would like me to say." Cress stammered.
"I am saying that the Montgomery name is not something to be taken lightly and the people who marry in must have something to set us apart from the masses. So sweet Crescent Moon what sets you apart?"
"I um, I'm nice?" Cress squeaked. Mrs. Montgomery raised her eyebrow. Then Cress thought of what her Aunt Sybil always valued money, Cress hoped that this family was the same. "I um I have a way with computers—It could bring more fortune to the Montgomery family."
Mrs. Montgomery gave a cold smile. "I think we have reached an understanding Crescent Moon. You will be my little hacker. How sweet."
"I—um, thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery." Cress said, feeling as though she was stuck inside a glass cage that was becoming smaller and smaller.
Mrs. Montgomery chuckled. "Oh please, we sound so old in that official title. Call us Aimery and Levana."
