The fall was so sudden my brain couldn't accept what was happening except scream into the unknown. If only I was a little calmer I would have realized there would be a change between the both of us, I would have realized the lighting pull toward Beatrice was not from an active imagination. I didn't notice this change until after I hit the water. My God it hurt my back! For a brief glance I saw the bed sink down into the blackness then swam up to the surface gasping for breath, never had I been more thankful to breathe.

"Jude," called a strangely familiar voice, it sounded British and older, in my disoriented mind I was wondering where I heard that voice before.

"Jude, can you hear me?" asked the voice growing more familiar by the second along with a feeling something wasn't right. This voice sounded strangely like me, why was I calling myself? I heard the owner of the voice swim up behind me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Now don't panic," warned the voice in my ear but it was too late. My hands brushed up to something that wasn't suppose to be there and when I felt to confirm my suspicions and they were…..

"Holy Shit, I've got tits!" I shrieked in the mixture of horror and surprise as I felt the soft globes on my chest. Feeling was one thing, seeing was another. What I saw through my eyes was long, dark wet hair, a torso of a feminine body and a tail of red, black and white. "I'm….I'm…."

"We switched, Jude," said the voice as I turned to the speaker and low and behold I was staring at myself. I think my body said something else but I blacked out temporarily before he could say anything. I was only out for a two minutes but it felt like I've been out for ages. When I woke up I thought I was waking from a dream. I was out of the water, lying on hard ground in the dark but the tail confirmed I was not dreaming. I was about to panic again when a hand covered my mouth…..by my own hand.

"Don't say a word….they're talking," whispered myself. I would have been disobedient if it wasn't for the voices up above. It belonged to the madam and one of my most trusted men, Sgt. Small. This was their conversation:

"I didn't know he was an imposter! If I'd known I wouldn't have given that bastard a discount!"

"Not to worry madam, this imposter is a master at disguises that not even the most gifted spotters would know he was a Mater Thief. You're just another victim taken advantage of by a gifted Thief."

"Well I hope that bastard gets caught and soon. That new girl would have been considered my best if that Thief didn't go off with my merchandise."

"We'll get him madam and Kesslee sends his greatest apologies," said the Sergeant then I heard them leave. After they were gone I tried to comprehend what I just heard. If I wasn't in control of W&P then who was and why was he impersonating me? I didn't have time to ponder when Beatrice (or in this case myself) forced me to look at the girl wearing my face. Once upon a time I had dirty blonde hair and a face a girl would fall for by just one look. Now my hair was white with a few wrinkles on my face. Being forced to see myself this way I suddenly felt old and frail.

Oh Bea, what do you see in that old bag of bones?

"A very beautiful piece of art I'm glad to take part of every time I'm with you," said Bea, pulling me closer to myself. It was strange to be in the embraces of your own body it was almost unnatural.

"H-How did…."

"This happen," said Bea pointing at herself then to me. I nodded my head feeling a little uneasy. This is what she explained to me: "During the fall we were still in intercourse our souls switched before we hit the water. It's rarely done with my people but it does happen and it only happens when two Sirens or Siren and slave desire to marry each other. Are you wanting to marry me?"

"I….yes…but I was hoping to marry you as….well…..me in my body and you in….you know…."

"I know what you mean, Jude," said Bea, laughing, "It's a strange accident that can easily be fixed by making love on land." I was surprised yet pleased by this simple cure of the switch. In need of this cure I advanced toward Bea kissing her hungrily when she suddenly pushed me away. I was angry and hurt by this sudden rejection.

"Why did you do that for?" I asked sternly

"We can't do it now, I still have a tail and trust me you don't want to be sealed to me in my body and I in yours but mainly for you."

"And why is that?"

"Think about it Jude, would you like to go through life having a period every month or worse have a child? Believe me a soul of a man can't handle a woman's childbirth and the outcome is tragic," said Bea with grave seriousness. With that in mind it almost made sense, no matter how much we make the two sexes equal there will always be a difference and childbirth was the most fatal difference for both genders.

"OK….I get what you're saying Bea but when is the right time for the cure?"

"The only way to do this is to be dry, when you're dried you'll get your legs back and that would be the right time to do it but as of now you need to find book 6." I was about to protest when the voices from above came back. Without warning I was pushed into the water. I wanted to go up but I felt myself being pulled into the deep. Once again I was about to panic when I heard Bea's voice in my head. Don't worry, the current will guide you to the book. Just follow it, it'll make things easier.

Keeping faith in Bea's word I followed the current into the depths. I looked behind me to see her tail was glowing like rubies, it was a beautiful and useful sight for me to see in the dark. Feeling brave I swam faster with the current while throwing back a thought, hoping she'll hear me: I love you. I smiled when she responded back. I love you too, Jude.