Source manuscripts: profjimysan.com/a09  A09.docx

Content advisory: Adult language, content, and situations, controversial religious and cultural references, speculative histories, acts of violence, and self-harm. Find more information about the novel at SHATTERED MIRRORS NOTES.

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Ikart, a celestial detective, begins investigating the disappearance of Guardian angel Panea. Without anything to go on, the detective intends to interrogate Salina, the leader of the Angel’s union. On his way to see Salina, Ikart learns from Luci that a budding shaman, Henry Snyder, had a relationship with Panea before her disappearance. The investigator interviews Melvin, Henry’s Guardian, before observing Henry to learn more about the disappearance.

As Henry lies on the beach, he has a vision. In Henry’s vision, Henry is introduced to several celestials. Among those celestials is Panea, who provides divine affirmation to the young shaman before being arrested by two archangels and taken away.

Ikart remains observing Henry through his protector’s eyes, Lindsey, as he is contacted by Lord Lakita (fifty years in the future), who had ordered the arrest warrant for Henry’s brother, Tom, a year earlier. The arrest ended in Tom’s execution. Henry does not trust Lakita, who he blames for his brother’s death, yet departs from his serene beachside routine, setting the stage for them to communicate.

Henry initially resists the Council and secretly takes energy from Lakita. Their relationship is tense due to their conflicts. During their conversation, Henry contrasts his approach to storing prana with his brother’s way, and within the disclosure, he has a change of heart. Despite the past, Henry takes a risk, trusts Lakita, and shares his knowledge with her. Henry manages to release his resentment towards Lakita. Henry reveals to Lakita his unique pranic healing powers and ability to store energy.

Their encounter highlights the power of ordinary natural life events. Amidst a spiritual experience, they share a significant emotional output.

Chapter 9 At the Conference Center 
Narrator: Henry
Place: Burris Conference Center, New Berkeley University

I bent down, put on my socks and shoes, and walked towards the conference center. My time on the beach with Lakita reminded me of Tom. This made me sad as I imagined sharing this accomplishment. I saw his face in my mind and felt his presence. I wished he were here so I could make him proud.

The truth is, if he were right in front of me now, I probably wouldn’t say a thing. I would stare at him. Tom was non-verbal. He communicated telepathically with me but relied on a letterboard when speaking with friends. I did not value my time with him when he was alive, and this makes me feel a bit empty. Along with many in my class, we remember him as a courageous and benevolent superhero.

This is why I dread having to be around other people right now, especially his friends. The only thing worse than constantly thinking about Tom’s death is having hundreds of people asking about him and saying dumb shit – it hurts, and it is awkward as hell.

The strong aroma of coffee lingered around me from a large roaster at the rear of the building. As I peeked through the windows to see how many had shown up, I saw the university staffers registering the remaining attendees who were provisional graduates attending their final required course.

It is crowded and bustling. Most people arrived early to take advantage of the free buffet, which already had long lines. In front of the assigned seats, name tags and binders holding the course materials are geometrically aligned and symmetrical. A microphone on a stand is in the middle of the room, where students can ask questions.

The room arrangements are very neat and organized, perhaps more special this year after last year’s tragedy. The fresh-cut peonies color the room and honor Tom. The stair rails leading up to the speaker’s podium are adorned with red, orange, and white lilies. Peonies and lilies were Tom’s favorite flowers. These details make a difference.

Most importantly, the speaker, my friend and roommate Lauren Mendoza, is at the podium. As I walk through the door, I hear beeps from the security system and briskly pass through. I looked around as I sauntered through the foyer. It was more crowded with attendees than I had expected. After I go to the table to drop off my pack, I return, trying to find the line for the food. Soon, I am surrounded by many people waiting for the course to start, and I end up standing in some weirdly winding line that leads nowhere. I learned, happily, that I was in line for the buffet.

The buffet offers a variety of breakfast choices, including my favorites: waffles, freshly roasted Mojave coffee, and freshly squeezed orange juice from nearby Phoenix groves. Attendees occupy every conceivable space to chat with classmates or introduce themselves to new friends. Some other masochists are taking the opportunity to meet with recruiters for postgraduate positions.

“Hey, Onree!” Lauren’s friend from my morning coffee club and Bio-Engineering class loves to say my name with a fake French accent. He appears unusually professional today. Instead of his usual mismatched and oddly-sized clothes, he’s dressed in a neat blue shirt and gray pants. Just last week, he wore a striking outfit of a striped red and white shirt, yellow and black pants, and shiny, pointed rain boots to Bio lab.

“Hi, Bobby. I’m glad we made it to the end!  How did you do in Bio?”

“Uh, bro, I passed! Just barely. How is you holding up?”

I am not sure why some smart people like to purposely fuck up grammar. “I’m good. Couldn’t be better.” That was a complete lie. I was doing some interesting things, and parts of my life were coming together. But I felt lost, bitter, and sad all at the same time. But that is not what he was asking me.

“Cool, cool. We should hang.”

I wanted to laugh. Who says that? Lauren likes him, so I shouldn’t judge.

“I’d like that.” That wasn’t likely to happen. We were all moving on, and I was glad he didn’t ask me more.

“So whatcha doing after ya graduate?”

There it is. “I think I will take a year off. They will say that we must get involved in one of the projects to pay our time back. But they did kill Tom, so they owe me.” I don’t know who I was trying to convince. There was no chance I would be able to take that year off.

“Well, good luck, bro.”

“Bye. Bobby.”

As I walked away, I was relieved that the first conversation was over. A billion more awkward moments to look forward to.

Lauren’s outfit and accessories were appropriate and stylish. She was well-prepared for her presentation. Lauren usually dresses in a simple work outfit, and today, she’s following her sense of business fashion, looking especially sharp and attractive on stage in a crisp satin royal blue shirt and dark-fitted navy blue pencil skirt. She accessorized with a pearl necklace from her dad and a gold watch and earrings from her mom. Her long black hair is neatly tied back, and her makeup looks natural. My only concern is her unusual nervousness from last night, which seems out of character for her.

My other roommate, Lindsey McCauley, worked with Lauren yesterday to practice her presentation and prepare her clothes. I have not seen Lindsey, but we met at the Observation Point earlier. Lindsey thinks I am in danger, so she watches for suspicious activity.

As Student President, Lauren regularly performs speaking engagements. She is very knowledgeable and is often requested to teach the classes she is supposed to be attending. Today is the last time she will represent her class or school at an event. Lindsey and I organized a banquet in her honor to mark the end of academia. We will quietly celebrate her graduation for two days and nights.

Lauren’s presentation is a bit overboard, but that is what Dr. Magillacuddy wants. He likes to throw his weight around and wants everyone to witness his influence. Lauren’s father often described Magillacuddy as ‘ostentatious,’ but he really meant ‘narcissist.’ I would agree.

The Mayor of the Serenity and the President of the University will attend. These guys are in it for the money. It is no secret that they are paving the way for future donations from the Mendoza-Burris multi-billion dollar estate. Lauren’s father is a well-known Filipino real estate mogul who owns many major Nogales beach properties. Lauren’s mother, Sandra Burris, is the dangerous one. She pretended to hate me, but when Lauren wasn’t around, she crossed boundaries. She would touch my crotch over my pants and sometimes tried to take my clothes off. I don’t want to complain and cause a fight in her family.

I have asked Sandra to stop many times. She threatened to tell Lauren about our relationship, which was not sanctioned by the Council edicts.

I was with Sandra long before Lauren, and we dated only a few times, as the law required me to. The problem was that we kept seeing each other for about a month, several times each day, for non-reproductive sex. It was fun and tiring for about a month. I didn’t even know Sandra and Lauren were related until much later. The facts matter. If Lauren finds out, it will no doubt bother her because she is serious about Council edicts.

“Hi, Henry.”

It was Nadia Martin, a friend of my brother. “Hi, Nadia. I didn’t know you were graduating.”

“Yes. A lot of people still think I am a Freshman.”

We both laughed. Nadia looks very young because she is young; Nadia graduated high school at age twelve. She is brilliant. Tom and Nadia were very close, and she wanted to have a baby with him. Nadia secretly asked Tom to meet with her during every time slot but didn’t want to get pregnant until she completed her doctorate. Tom respected her for that, and I was the only one who knew. I even took a few time slots, and we played chess the whole time. It was more fun than Sandra. But, just the same, we could have been arrested for violating the rules.

Lauren and Lindsey would never approve of what I did with Sandra or Nadia. They always remind me about the Council’s Great Directives. Those are the rules. Lauren does not know about her mother and me, and if I say anything, She might blow something up, maybe me. I don’t want to add to the drama in her life. Of course, I must play it cool with the other jackass in Lauren’s life.

I am talking about Dr. Magillacuddy, the other jackass. Linsey and Lauren call him Magpie. Lindsey came up with the name Magpie for the doc. He will be leading the presentation. We all hate this prick but don’t say anything to Lindsey out of respect. I believe Magpie had something to do with my brother’s death along with the governor. Lauren is nervous because her mother and her boss are concerned about her comments about the Council and want to speak with her after the presentation.

“Henry!” I heard Lindsey calling me.

“Good morning!… Wow! You look great!” Lindsey was wearing jeans, which she never—I mean never—wears.

“Henry, thank you! This is just for you. Lauren and I have a present for you after the test.”

“Hmm. I like the sound of that!”

“Yeah, hmm. We can do that too, but we have another present that you will like. Maybe not as much. Who knows?” Lindsey was smiling and gave me a naughty wink. She rocks me. Lauren too. I am a lucky guy.

Yet something felt off. As I looked into her eyes, I sensed a strange unease—almost as if her eyes weren’t her own.

Summary [S9]

Henry attends a conference at New Berkeley University, haunted by memories of his brother Tom, whose death continues to weigh on him. As he prepares for the day, Henry reflects on Tom’s life and the lingering emptiness he feels. The bustling atmosphere of the conference contrasts with Henry’s inner turmoil, as reminders of Tom permeate the room through floral arrangements and memorials.

Henry encounters familiar faces—Bobby, Lauren’s quirky friend, and Nadia, a prodigy close to Tom. These interactions expose Henry’s discomfort and lingering grief. The presence of Lauren’s mother, Sandra, complicates matters further as Henry recalls their past relationship and her ongoing advances, a secret that could fracture his relationship with Lauren.

Meanwhile, Henry observes Lauren’s nervousness before her presentation, a rare display of vulnerability in his otherwise confident friend. Lindsey, Henry’s roommate, senses danger and stays vigilant. As the chapter concludes, Lindsey’s playful demeanor carries an undercurrent of unease, leaving Henry unsettled as he detects something unusual in her gaze.

Character List [C9]

• Henry Snyder – The narrator struggles with grief over his brother Tom while navigating complicated personal relationships. His internal conflict grows as he balances memories, loss, and the weight of Council directives.
• Tom Snyder (Mentioned) – Henry’s deceased brother, remembered as a telepathic, courageous figure who continues to shape Henry’s decisions.
• Lauren Mendoza – Henry’s roommate and the conference’s keynote speaker. She presents herself as confident and professional, though Henry notices her uncharacteristic nervousness.
• Lindsey McCauley – Henry’s other roommate and a vigilant observer. Lindsey’s protective nature contrasts with an unsettling undercurrent Henry senses during the chapter.
• Sandra Burris – Lauren’s mother and Henry’s former lover. Sandra’s advances threaten to unravel Henry’s relationships and reflect tensions tied to the Council’s strict edicts.
• Bobby – A lighthearted friend of Lauren and Henry. His comic presence provides levity but also reflects the inevitable drift between classmates.
• Nadia Martin – A young prodigy who shared a close bond with Tom. Her presence stirs memories and highlights Henry’s hidden knowledge of Tom’s relationships.
• Dr. Magillacuddy (Mentioned) – The authoritative, overbearing figure overseeing the conference. Henry and his friends view him with distrust.

< End of Character List >

Tag List [T9]
#Henry_Snyder #Tom_Snyder #Lauren_Mendoza #Lindsey_McCauley #Sandra_Burris #Nadia_Martin #Bobby #Dr_Magillacuddy #Grief #Brotherhood #Secrets #Council_Directives #New_Berkeley_University #Telepathy #Danger_Sensing #Interpersonal_Conflict #Presentation #Emotional_Tension #Mystery #Family_Drama

< End of Tag List >