In the Veins of the Drowning

Fort Linum rests on the highest summit of the isle of Seraf, ruled over by King Nemea, who has become infamous for hunting sirens. Imogen Nel—a Siren in hiding—attends an engagement feast two nights before her marriage to the king’s captain. During the festivities, she converses with Agatha, her childhood governess who is also a secret Siren. Agatha does not approve of the match and would rather spirit Imogen away to safety somewhere far from the king’s grasp.

Clothed in a tight, gaudy dress, Imogen seeks her favorite parapet for air. Outside, she encounters a man also seeking refuge from the cacophony of revelers inside. His current misery implies his dislike for King Nemea, which many other leaders of the surrounding isles share. When the man theorizes that “the only reason anyone would reside this high up—this far from the rest of the world—is because they either have something to fear or something to hide” (8), Imogen is offended to near tears. Though he’s criticizing King Nemea, the words also ring true for her, as she finds it easier to resist the call of