In the ordinary chaos of college life, nine students uncover a terrifying truth — each of them possesses a Shadow self, a dark manifestation of their hidden trauma and suppressed desires.
For Caleb Jensen, balancing classes, clubs, and the weight of his past is already overwhelming. But when his Shadow takes form and transports him to another world, he questions whether what he saw was real.
As the Shadows appear one-by-one, their daily college lives begin to fracture. Action, horror, and psychological tension collide in a story about identity, self-acceptance, and the monsters we create within.
Will they embrace their Shadows and become whole… or be destroyed by the parts of themselves they refuse to face?
Genre
Urban Fantasy · Psychological Thriller
Format
Light Novel · 7 Volumes · 39 Chapters
Setting
Blackwood University · The Negative Realm
Themes
Identity · Shadow Self · Self-Acceptance · Power · Trauma
Inspired By
Carl Jung's Shadow Self · Western & Eastern Media
Full Release
June 1st · Draft2Digital (eBook)
The Nine
Characters
// Click any character to view their full profile
Read Now
Chapters
Mark the Date
Promotion & Release
Official Full Release — eBook
June 1, 2026
Available on Draft2Digital · Paperback Coming Soon
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PAPERBACK DATE TBA
The Creator
About the Author
Da'Xavier Pace
// Author · Catalyst Nine Series
B.S. Business ManagementMBA
The author behind Catalyst Nine, Da'Xavier Pace holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and a Master's Degree in Business Administration. What drew him to create Catalyst Nine was a collision of questions and theories that crossed paths into one story.
"I want to tell a story about what it means to be Black in America — but with a supernatural and psychological twist." Drawing from both western and eastern media, two key influences shaped the series: Carl Jung's Shadow Self theory, and one pivotal question — what if our shadow selves took humanoid form and came to confront us?
"What if our shadow selves were real… and they came for us?"
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Ability
Personality & Background
The Darkness Within
Villains & The Umbra
The Umbra — meaning "shadow" in Latin — are not ordinary monsters. They are the things tucked away in the deepest part of your mind: insecurities, trauma, identity crises, imperfections of self. Each Umbra has one goal: show their "lighter side" who they truly are and complete a fusion — becoming whole. One main ability of the Umbra is shapeshifting, though some refuse.
// Shadow Counterparts
Actoritas
Latin: Social Prestige · Influence · Authority
Caleb's shadow. All the pain and hate Caleb keeps locked away. Mostly alone in the Negative Realm. Shares a psychic link with Caleb — sensing his emotions and awakening the same abilities. Forged his own Staff after sensing Caleb receive his Katana.
Caleb's ShadowPsychic LinkWeapon: Staff
Oblivior
Latin: Memory Loss · Forgetfulness
Jamal's shadow. All the anger and pain Jamal carries and never shows. Relies on brute strength and shapeshifts his arms into melee weapons. Knows what makes Jamal tick — provoking rage to gain the upper hand.
Jamal's ShadowBrute StrengthShapeshifting Arms
Speculum
Latin: Mirror
May's Umbra. True form unknown. Shapeshifts into animals — real or mythical — and gains each creature's abilities. Can breathe actual fire as a dragon. Often used as a scout.
"If you can be anything to anyone, do you ever get to be yourself?"
May's ShadowAnimal ShapeshiftingScout
Augar
Latin: Interpreter of Omens
Evelyn's Umbra. Calm, but terrifying. Travels underground like a mole. His face resembles a rotting corpse with jagged teeth, hidden beneath a dark mossy hood.
Sameer's Umbra, taking the form of a Black Panther. When he first encountered Sameer he did not fight — he silently watched from a dead tree, then made himself known. Calm among the Umbra.
Sameer's ShadowBlack Panther FormNon-Aggressive
Culpra
Latin: Guilt · Fault
Ivy's Umbra. First appeared in Ch. 4. Stems from the emotions and responsibilities Ivy ran from. While Ivy controls living plants, Culpra controls dead plants, withered trees, and dead roots.
Ivy's ShadowControls Dead FloraFirst seen Ch. 4
Dolor
Latin: Pain · Suffering
Noah's Umbra. Wears a classical suit and cape with six red eyes. Echo Chamber — an invisible dome where twisted sounds of loved ones grow louder until they drive the target to madness. Can project distorted memories that feel completely real. Fused with Noah in Ch. 21. Defeated by Elara with the Axe of Ogun in Ch. 22.
Elara's Umbra. Always seen whispering in the corner with red string in her hands. Cunning and patient — mocks targets mentally. Her Crimson Strings bind opponents, and whatever emotional phrase she speaks is wired into the target's brain — felt as absolutely real.
Manipulative from the first encounter. Extremely dangerous and blood-lusted. His rage stems from Arron's past trauma and recent failures, fueling deep resentment toward Caleb and the others.
Arron's ShadowManipulativeBlood-Lusted
Eclipse
Leo's Umbra — Two Sides
Sun Side: playful, uses Sun Seals to spy in the real world, bears a sun symbol. Moon Side: quiet, calm, unsettling — bears a moon symbol. Together powerful; split, each operates at 50%.
Leo's ShadowSun SealsDual Identity
// Authority
Nox
Latin: Night · Bradley Hammond's Umbra
Highly intelligent de facto leader of the Umbra. Can sense fusions from miles away and knows when any Umbra dies. Sits at the Ruined Temple observing. Speaks telepathically with Bradley Hammond. Wants everyone to accept their true selves.
Bradley's ShadowUmbra LeaderTelepathic
Bradley Hammond
Public Figure
Calm, notable public speaker traveling North America — mostly universities and high schools. Knows a great deal about the Umbra and certain artifacts. First introduced in Chapter 18.
Public SpeakerCh. 18Artifact Knowledge
Supporting Cast
Side Characters
Professor James Row
History Professor · Mentor · Blackwood University
Professor at Blackwood for over a decade. Mentor to the students — helps them awaken their powers. Possesses the Anulus Inferni, passed down by his father at age 18. Unaware of its true power. Ability: teleportation within the Negative Realm. His Umbra is Morvane.
Age 445'11"North CarolinaBorn 2/12/1981
Morvane
Professor Row's Umbra
Has been with Professor Row for over 20 years. Speaks rarely but protects James Row without hesitation. Over 10 feet tall with extending arms and tendrils for offense and defense. Shapeshifts — turned into a wolf in Ch. 15.
10+ ft tallShapeshifterTendrils
Aaron Cannon
Student · Blackwood University
Quiet and often alone, but easy to connect with over shared interests. Friends are not heavily invested in him — deepening his isolation. Has documented mental health struggles. His Umbra is Azarel.
Age 205'6"Junior · Marketing
Alex Atwell
Aaron's Friend · Senior
Long-time friend of Aaron, about to graduate. Soft, sweet, and empathetic. Busy with school, work, and two campus organizations — a predominately Black Greek org and a B.C.U. social media publication team.
SeniorTwo Organizations
Kim Owens
Aaron's Friend · Senior
Calm and chill by nature. Not much is known about him — but he genuinely wants to spend more time with Aaron before graduating.
SeniorGraduating Soon
Agent Morales
S.I.A. Agent
[ CLASSIFIED — REDACTED ]
Agent Roman
S.I.A. Agent
[ CLASSIFIED — REDACTED ]
Director Angel
S.I.A. Director
[ CLASSIFIED — REDACTED ]
The World
Locations
Blackwood University
Oregon · Founded 1904 · ~23,000 Students & Faculty
About 90 minutes from Portland. Gothic-style campus blended with modernization that harmonizes with the surrounding environment. Primary setting for the characters' daily lives.
Blackwood University Library
Primary Meeting Point
The main gathering place for Caleb and the others. A crucial hub where the group discusses plans, Umbra encounters, and coordinates next moves.
British Columbia University
British Columbia, Canada · B.C.U.
A medium-sized university with a modern, technical look very different from Blackwood. Leo and Sameer are notably impressed by the campus.
The Negative Realm
Home of the Umbra · As Old as Human History
Dark, ancient, barely lit. Filled with ruins, crumbled structures, villages, and temples built by unknown hands. Time moves slower here. Entry is nearly instantaneous. Cracks on the ground mean you've crossed over.
Replica of the Negative Realm
Training Ground · Accessed by Professor Row
Similar to the Negative Realm but without ruins — like an empty desert. Professor Row opens it by curling his finger and seals it by uncurling. Used for training and private conversations with Morvane.
The Ruined Temple
Negative Realm · Umbra Hideout
Somewhere deep in the Negative Realm sits a ruined temple. Where Nox and the Umbra gather. Nox observes here — watching, waiting, aware of everything happening across both realms.
// Artifacts
The Axe of Ogun
Umbra Artifact · Created Late 18th Century, West Africa
A blacksmith claimed to see a vision of an all-black lion with red eyes that took the form of Ogun. The Umbra guided him to forge the axe — black and gold blade with a wooden handle, carved with a message for its wielder. The axe can separate the bond between a human and their Umbra. First mentioned in Ch. 14. Evelyn foresaw it in Ch. 11. Elara drove it into Noah's chest in Ch. 22 to separate Dolor from him.
Anulus Inferni
Ring of the Underworld · Professor Row's Ring
Created by an Umbra in the Negative Realm. Creates a fictional replica of the Negative Realm. Passed down through Professor Row's family — given by his father at age 18. Row is currently unaware of its full potential. Bradley Hammond has noted the ring likely carries far greater power than anyone yet knows.
