Mystic Academy Ch 6

Authors note. No erotica in this transition chapter, if you are new to the series I'd recommend you check out Mystic Academy Ch 1 first.

Enjoy!

Megan walked briskly with her eyes focused straight ahead as she left Professor Lohar's, and hers, lab at the end of the class day. The last few days had been intense, and she was looking forward to relaxing in her room for the night before the 5 am feedings.

Megan let her mind wander aimlessly while making her way among the students also ending their days in the busy hallway. The Professor kept a busy schedule between classes, working on special assignments and his own research. Megan was apparently supposed to be present for all aspects of this, bringing various creatures to the main room or assisting students in their work. None of it was overly difficult, although the students certainly enjoyed her work outfit and found reasons to ask lots of questions. She didn't mind the attention, she supposed, they were all grad students so there was none of the foolishness she had to endure with Professor Anahan and the first-year students.

She felt a moment of frustration as she thought of a few of Professor Lohan's students, especially one group in applied botany. She didn't know what she did to piss off that redhead student and her friends but somehow, she had attracted their attention in a bad way. She shook her head in frustration at the petty questions and obvious attempts to embarrass her in the classes. She realized after the second class that this was the bunch that set off the faeries when Bram was showing her around the first day so had been polite but playing it cool with the troublemakers.

Annoyingly, Professor Lohar was not really paying attention to the subtle harassment, leaving Megan at a loss how to proceed.

"Well, there is a troubled face."

Megan stopped, looking up in surprise.

"What?" she said confused for a moment, "oh, hello Zalena! I am so sorry, my mind was wandering."

"Down some dark paths I suspect," Zalena said as she guided Megan to the wall. The students moved around the two, looking forward to their own evening activities and ignoring the two faculty.

"Oh my, no" Megan said with a fixed smile, "I am just becoming accustomed to the routine is all. Always a challenge starting fresh, yes?"

"I am sure," Zalena said looking Megan over carefully. Megan felt a shiver of fear with the look, did Zalena know what had happened at her last job? It had been over a year and she kept running into it, leaving her working a series of low paying and questionable jobs until this one caught her attention. One mistake, she thought bitterly, one lousy mistake and it just won't die!

"It is nothing," Megan continued, "How are you doing? The uniform fits quite well," Megan said awkwardly finding herself at a loss for words. She still thought back to their first meeting and the amazing foot rub Zalena had given her.

"Of course it does, love." Zalena said laughing as she moved to stand beside Megan, slipping her arm in to catch Megan's elbow, "I fit it myself. Tell me, where were you heading right now with the long face?"

"Well back to my room really, "Megan said smiling, "I ate earlier so was going to relax some and do some preparation for tomorrows classes. Professor Lohar keeps a busy schedule."

"Bram keeps a busy schedule," Zalena said laughing, "And the Professor goes along with it. Oh, don't get me wrong, Professor Lohar did not get to the top of his field by lazing about! The man is brilliant but does need to learn to relax too."

"It sounds like you know him quite well," Megan said with a smile, glancing sideways at Zalena. "Where are we going, if I may ask?"

"I have been here for several years, young lady," Zalena said patting Megan's arm, "Many years with the Professor and the others, and for many assistants too."

"Does he go through a lot of them?" Megan asked concerned.

"No," Zalena said, obviously choosing her words carefully, "No, he has had a few move on to other positions, being associated with the Professor is good for one's career if done well."

"But?"

"Well, let's just say sometimes there are challenges."

"Yes, I am learning that little detail."

Zalena patted Megans arm, looking down at the slightly shorter woman.

"Yes, you most certainly need a night off!" Zalena said with a light chuckle, "where were you going?"

"Well, ma'am, as I mentioned, I was going to my room to prepare for tomorrows lessons."

"Ma'am, I'll Ma'am you," Zalena said with a laugh hugging Megan's arm tightly, "You are faculty Megan, just like I am. You will call me Zalena!

"Yes ma'am, Zalena," Megan said smiling.

The two continued walking as Zalena steered them away from the staff quarters down a side corridor that Bram had not showed her. Opening a side door, Zalena lead Megan across the academy compound to another building set aside from the others.

"Have you just been going to your room every evening?" Zalena asked pretending to be horrified despite the smile.

"Yes, Zalena," Megan said, "The Professor keeps late hours, and I have been trying to become accustomed to his studies and patterns."

"Well, I will tell Lohar you are off tonight!" Zalena made a off whistling sound, summoning one of the ever-present faeries around the academy. Within moments a light blue faerie arrived, settling on her arm much as a hawk would for its trainer. Zalena whispered close to the faierie, its humanoid face smiling and nodding before racing off down the hall.

"You can communicate with them?" Megan asked, "None of the professors I had worked with prior seemed to be exploring that aspect so much."

"Oh, they all do, they simply didn't get you in on that side of the relationships with their studies." Zalena glanced down at Megan again appraisingly, "Not that I cannot see why."

"Well, I am new in the assistant role," Megan said quietly.

"We will investigate expanding your studies. Now, enough work!"

Stopping at the entrance to another building, Zalena rapped her knuckles on the thick wooden door. Even though Megan only heard a dull rapping, the door opened quickly. Holding the door was a breathtakingly beautiful woman wearing a thin, form fitting one-piece outfit, revealing, black toga, the woman's shoulder length black hair framing a pale face, Appraising eyes glanced over Zalena and Megan before nodding slightly and standing to one side, gesturing the women past the door.

Megan followed Zalena closely, glancing back as the dark-haired woman closed the door. Seeming to glide forward effortlessly, the woman stepped passed Zalena to lead them into a larger room.

Megan stopped at the threshold; eyes wide at the sensual elegance of the room. The middle of the room was dominated by a raised pedestal with a marble statue of a beautiful woman wearing a toga like the woman leading them into the room. Arranged around the edges were several couches with other woman and some men dressed in similar fashion. Megan was surprised to recognize a few of the other professors and staff from the academy.

"What is this place?" Megan asked, trying to take it all in.

"One of the schools of the Academy," Zalena said lightly, "It is sort of an open secret I suppose this is a school for Hetaera."

"Oh!" Megan said surprised. Hetaera were known generally as courtesans and prostitutes, often holding the attention of very influential members of business and government. More than simple prostitutes, Hetaera were educated in history, politics and their understanding of current affairs often rivaled the knowledge of the officials they accompanied. Megan had heard of darker roles the women and men fulfilled at times but brushed that off as mere fantasy.

"I had no idea there was a school for this here."

"Like I said, open secret," Zalena said easily, "ah here comes Mistress Naimah now."

Megan watched as the tall, lean but powerful looking woman entered from across the room. Her dark almond skin seemed to glow, framed by jet black hair draped over her shoulders. Wearing a shimmering golden hued toga, she breezed into the room with a sense of command and presence that Megan found intimidating and envious at the same time.

"Zalena!" the woman said. She spoke softly yet somehow her words filled the room. Crossing the room with unhurried grace she took Zalena's shoulders, leaning in to kiss both cheeks. Standing back, still holding Zalena's arms she looked at Megan, her eyes taking in the younger woman.

"And who do we have here?" The woman's voice held a soft sensuality that stirred Megan, leaving her tongue tied.

"This, my friend, is Megan. She just accepted an assistant role with Professor Lohar."

"Oh, how lovely," she said, focusing on Megan, "My darling, I am Mistress Naimah. I have heard so much about you, all to the good of course."

Megan felt a sinking sensation as Mistress Namiah spoke, an expression of despair clouding her eyes as Mistress Namiah spoke.

"Your paper on the relationship between household lores and residents was exquisite, although I feel you could have explored the naughtier aspects a little further!" Namiah brushed her fingers over Megan's arm leaving a tingling sensation despite the lab coat she wore over her work uniform.

"Um, yes ma'am," Megan stammered, "I, ah, did consider exploring that aspect but it did not seem like it would be well accepted in the academic community."

"You are writing for the wrong community my dear," Namiah said lightly, "Believe me, those stuffy old academics may seem like they are too good for those types of papers, but late in the evening they are not reaching for articles on quantum macrophysics and muon particle formation. Trust me on this, love."

"I suppose not," Megan said laughing over her discomfort.

"What can we provide you ladies this evening," Naimah said guiding the conversation.

"My friend here is feeling somewhat stressed this week and I thought what a perfect opportunity to show her some of the lighter aspects of academy life."

Mistress Namiah smiled and winked at Zalena as she took both women's hands.

"Well, in that case I believe I may have just the thing to help Megan relax this evening."