Isabelle: A tale of Hearts

Chapter 1, Extraordinarily Ordinary

You know how people often become their parents. Well I guess that's what happened to me. I let my perfectionism and temper get the best of me. The only other person I know from the real world, I nearly killed. It is said that wonderland can drive you mad. Looking back, I guess it's true.

The story starts on my fourteenth birthday. My mother surprised me with a trip to London to visit my aunt and uncle. My uncle was probably my favorite family member. He was a writer. My mother never really understood her brother. In turn she never really understood me. She used to say I was too much like my uncle for my own good. I had a smile on my face brimming from ear to ear. I knocked on the door, "Isabelle, my darling niece, happy birthday my dear!"
"Thank you uncle Thomas. It's lovely to see you."
"Hello Thomas. Where's that wonderful wife of yours?"
"Minerva is in the kitchen. She insisted on making a delightful brunch for you two. Been cooking up a storm all day."
"Isabelle and I would be happy to assist her..."
"I didn't say that."
"Isabelle..."
"Victoria, why don't you help Minnie in the kitchen and Isabelle can come with me."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I always enjoy our time together."
"Please mother."
"Okay. But you are aware that one day she'll need to give up these childish flights of fancy. Now run along dear." she replied. I did as she said and entered the apartment with my coat on. She tried to take it off of me but failed. I was too quick for her.

I ran to my uncle's office. He was a writer. He wrote several fiction novels and short stories. Each one was better than the last. On his desk was a box tied shut with a red ribbon. I picked up the box and observed it. Then my uncle came in and shut the door behind him, "I see you found your gift."
"What is it?"
"Open it." he replied. I sat down in the chair and started to remove the ribbon. I opened the box and inside were four books. The Snow Queen, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, and one that read Isabelle's Wonderland. It had a red cover with roses decorating it. I grinned at the books, "I figured you were running out of new things to read. So I went to the shop and found some classics for you to read. This one however is my newest issue. I dedicated it to you."
"It's brilliant. Thank you!"
"You're quite welcome my darling girl. If you're ever feeling like you need an escape, I made a world just for you."
"Wonderland?"
"Yes. In Wonderland, the flowers sing songs. Animals can talk and live like humans do. I think you'll like this, there are bread and butter flies. Every impossible thing you can imagine, lives right there. Safe from harm. All of it just for you my dear."
"It sounds lovely. I think I'd like to visit sometime."
"As long as you keep believing in it, Wonderland is real. Now let's join your mother and aunt Minnie. They'll be expecting us." he explained. I nodded and picked up my box of books. It was a pastime that my mother discouraged. She never really had a sense of whimsy or fun. She would often find me sitting in a tree reading a book. I had read almost every book we had. Even the ones that weren't very interesting. In those cases I would put myself in a character's place. It was certainly less boring after that.

As soon as we exited the study, my mother took off my coat. My coat was red, it was my favorite color. My mother really never cared for it. My coat was one of the few things that I had ever picked out myself. It was the one thing that truly showed who I was. My coat was revealed to show off my blue dress. My hair was tied back with a ribbon to match. I didn't mind blue, but I preferred red. She hung it up next to hers and then straightened out my dress, "Now was that so hard?"
"Why can't I keep my coat on?"
"You'll get far too warm. I don't understand why you insist on wearing it most of the time."
"It's my favorite coat."
"That's still no excuse for causing heat stroke. Now go on, you two sit down so we can eat. Aunt Minerva has a wonderful surprise for you."
"Yes mother." I replied. My uncle and I sat down right next to each other. My mom sat on my other side to leave a seat for my aunt.

Like my uncle Thomas, I thought quite highly of aunt Minerva. When they had gotten married five years ago, she had made a great impression. She was an artist. She could draw, paint, sew, you name it she could do it. She taught me how to do everything she could do. In fact she was often the one who did the illustrations for my uncle's books. Together they could make the impossible possible. On paper at least.

I watched as my aunt came out of the kitchen with several trays. She set them down, "Hello..." then she went to get more. Then she came out again, "aunt..." then she went to get more. Then she came back, "Minnie."
"Hello there Isabelle. One minute."
"Minnie do you want help?"
"No thank you dear. I have it all handled."
"Are you sure darling?"
"Absolutely positive. I'm almost finished. One moment please." she replied. She set out our plates and silverware as well as our tea cups. She placed mine down, "I know you like the one with the red flowers."
"You remembered."
"Of course my dear. Now sit tight. I'm nearly finished." she replied. She set out the food and took the trays back to the kitchen. Then she went to the spareroom.

She came back with a big box tied with a red ribbon. Then she came over to me, "For you my dear. I think you'll like it very much."
"It's quite large."
"I worked very hard on this." she replied. I opened the box and my eyes went wide. Inside the box was a red dress with two red bows to match. The dress also had bits of white lace. I stared in awe, "I worked very hard on this. I must say it's one of my best works."
"Minerva, the last thing she needs is another dress."
"I love it! Thank you aunt Minnie."
"You're quite welcome dear."
"Why are there two bows?"
"That's if you misplace one or if it gets broken...."
"Or I can put one on each side of my head."
"That too Isabelle. Now what is that box?"
"My gift from uncle Tom." I replied. My mother picked the box up and looked inside. Then she shot a glare at my uncle. Then she closed the box and put it back near my chair. There was never any pleasing my mother. Not my uncle, not my father, not me, no one was ever good enough for her. She always had this unattainable expectation for everyone. She was just delusional to the fact that it was an impossible goal. Yet again, nothing is entirely impossible.

The rest of the lunch went well. After we finished I bid goodbye to my aunt and uncle. We got back into the carriage and were on our way. I reached inside the box from my uncle and pulled out a book. The snow queen seemed like a good place to start. As I read through the story, I started to wonder about the main antagonist. The villain herself, the snow queen. When reading stories like this I often sympathized with the villain more. I always found them more appealing. My mind wondered as to who she actually was. There was never really a name given. Then, I found writing on the page. There was a slight amount of frost on the page. I leaned in closer, Linnea, my name is Linnea. Why won't it say that?It was written in ink and seemed older. My mind started to race, "Isabelle!"
"Huh?"
"Your nose is too much into your book to listen to your own mother."
"Sorry, were you saying something?"
"When we return home go and put away your things. You have the whole day to yourself and tomorrow we resume your lessons."
"Yes mother..."
"And one more thing. I realize I've been a bit harsh about your love of reading, so I won't judge you for it. Read as much as you'd like darling, just listen to me when I'm talking to you."
"Yes mother."
"Thank you my darling girl. Now you can get back to your book. I have a letter to write." she replied. I looked back at the old writing in my book. I looked around and started to search for a publishing date. There wasn't one. It's almost as if the book was some form of magic. The story couldn't be real though. Could it?