Internal Dimensions

chapter 1.

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Isabella

Isabella heard a sharp knock at her door, that knock could only belong to one person, Max. Glancing at her clock she mentally cursed as the purple numbers 09:20 flashed at her, she had read through the night, again.

With practiced efficiency she shoved the book beneath her pillow and missed her hair up before grumbling in her best 'I was sleeping, what do you want?' voice, "come in".

She heard Max's steps as he crossed the room to her balcony and threw open the blue silk curtains. She turned to face him without lifting her head from the pillow, and squinted at the bright light, "why do you have to do that? " she complained.

"Why do you have to read all night?" he shot back at her with a raised eyebrow.

She studied him, as usual, his blue and gold guard uniform was immaculate not a crease on it, his dark blue eyes glinting in the sunlight, only his dark hair was untamable, strands falling over his eyes.

" I didn't read all night," she pouted like a spoilt child.

"Hmm, then what's beneath your pillow?" he asked as he sat down on the single-seater sofa beside her bed.

Isabella ignored his question "is there a particular reason you came to disturb my lovely slumber?" she asked, sitting up and leaning against her soft headboard.

"Ah yes, her Royal Highness Queen Aria summons you to her throne room, you have been given an hour to get ready," he said in his haughtiest voice, sending Isabella into laughter.

"If she ever finds out you talk about her like this you are as good as dead," Isabella laughed but then sobered up suddenly.

"What is it?" Max asked concern, lining his voice as he stared at her, a frown making its way across his features.

"it's just, why does she want to see me, the last time she voluntarily called for me was to tell me my brother was gone and that I wouldn't be leaving the palace ever again, 10 years ago" she blew out an exasperated breath.

Max's face went from concerned to pitiful before a mask dropped over his features and he got up swiftly, "I don't know, but I should leave you to get ready," he bowed low and walked out of the room, leaving only a lonely silence behind him.

Slowly Isabella got up from her bed and trudged to her huge bathroom. Once done she threw open her closet and studied the million and one dresses hanging from the rails.

Isabella sighed, wishing she could just wear a top and pants like the boys and men, instead she was constantly forced to wear a dress, pulling out the first dress in front of her - a sparkly silver top that descended into a pink skirt - she pulled it on and glanced at herself in the full length mirror, her long light brown hair was a literal disaster, with a groan Isabella picked up her purple and teal crystalled hair brush and begun the long task of brushing out the knots. Finally when she was done she picked up her favourite tiara, rosegold with light blue crystals and placed it on her head.

Looking at herself one more time, she felt as if something was missing so she quickly added black eyeliner and clear mascara to her eyes.

True to his word Max arrived exactly 50 minutes later to escort her to her mother's receiving chamber. "Ready?" he asked as he closed the door behind her.

"Hmm..." she hummed out in answer, as she stepped through the doors of her bedroom and into the silver and rosegold decorated hallways, they walked in a comfortable silence, Max a few steps behind Isabella until they were standing outside the door to her mothers receiving chambers.

Isabella took a deep breath before raising her hand to the door and bringing it down once, hard. The door swung open revealing the queen in all her glittering finery, reclining atop a long silver couch at the end of the room, one leg crossed primly over the other, not a crease in her dress, her glittering crown perfectly placed atop her head of mahogany curls,not a wrinkle to be seen on her face, her ice blue eyes cool and calculating.

As usual Isabella was overcome by a tiny sense of embarrassment, her mother was beautiful, even at the age of 40.

Isabella could feel her mothers gaze scan her appearance and she resisted the urge to shiver, as Max knelt on the ground beside her.

"Come in," Queen Aria's voice came, soft, beautiful yet still authoritive.

Isabella curtsied, "yes, my queen," and stepped forward, Max rose and made to follow Isabella in, but the queen held up a prim hand, the rings resting on her slender fingers glittering. "Only Isabella".

Isabella subtly wiped her sweaty palms on the sides of her dress, suddenly nervous. Why didn't her mother want Max inside? He usually accompanied her to everything.

With a deep breath Isabella turned and gave Max her most assuring nod, she could do this. After all, it was only her mother.

Slowly Isabella turned on her heal, almost tripping on the folds of her dress as she once again came face to face with her mother, she lifted her head up and glided into the throne room,stopping just in front of her mother.

Queen Aria flicked her hands in dismissal at the guards clad in their rose gold and silver - The Kingdom of Fanastacia's Royal Colours - armor. They bowed their heads and walked backwards away from their Queen, only turning around when they reached the door,before slowly closing it behind them.

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Max

Max paced back and forth in front of the doors to the Queens chamber, why did the Queen want only Isabella in the room? What was so important that they would forgo their safety in favour of secrecy? But it was probably normal for a mother to have a conversation with her child in privacy, not that he would know.

Max rubbed his forehead trying to ease the pulsing headache at his temples which was slowly getting worse. Glancing at the other guards Max didn't glimpse even a hint of worry for their Queen. Was Max just being paranoid?

Slowly Max forced himself to calm down and stop pacing, yet as soon as he stopped he felt an urge to start walking again, just so that he could feel like he was doing something.

Just as he was about to start pacing again, a scream sounded from Queen Aria's chamber, and not any scream. No, this was a scream Max would recognize anywhere, this scream belonged to Isabella.

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