Dripping Mascara

The original cover for Dripping Mascara, made by the author.

The current version of the cover for Dripping Mascara.

Dripping Mascara, written by Genevieve Marshall, is a romance story that can be found in the user stories section on the Episode Interactive app. It has elements of drama, comedy, horror, adventure, fantasy, and mystery. Currently, Dripping Mascara is complete with 132 episodes and 10 seasons, and has over 5 million reads on the app. It has received an Epy Award, earning the title of "Best Romance/Drama Story of 2015". Any fan of Episode or Genevieve can also check out her newest story, Wasted Roses.

Readers should be warned that this story is prone to several glitches; subsequently, you can skip to any chapter from the first episode.

For more information on this story and sneak peeks into future chapters, follow @drippingmascara on Instagram and @episode_DripMas on Twitter. This story's featured song is Empress by Alina Joy. Warning! All season tabs are updated after season completion as to keep up with the story and its newfound information. NOTE: Anyone editing this page MUST keep major spoilers off the page or be elusive about them. Use season summaries already written below as an example of how to do this.

Summary

Ancient powers are waking, old enemies are descending... and a childhood crush is all Shelley needs to be up at night.

Plot 

The story stars 17-year old Michelle "Shelley" Manzo, a precocious young scientist who was orphaned due to a tragic murder-suicide perpetrated by her father, and who pines after a childhood crush she left behind when she moved away from California. Below are synopses of each season with a general idea of what happens, without too many spoilers being revealed.

Season 1 (episodes 1 to 15) - "Heartbreak"

In the beginning of the story, we find her attempting to develop contact with her childhood crush and family friend, Matthew Ruscuiti, a sweet and artistic young boy with whom she lost touch when she moved away after the incident. She and her cousins/best friends Jolie and Bella work out a way to get Shelley back in touch with Matthew by getting her an internship at Stanford and allowing her to stay with his family, but meeting him again after years of losing touch surprises her because he has changed so much over their years apart. Although punctuated by moments of confusion on Shelley's part because of some of his actions, matters sour significantly between Shelley and Matthew because he plays with her emotions and carries different expectations of a relationship than her. Episodes 1-15 collectively form Season 1, "Heartbreak", which ends with a shocking family tragedy.

Season 2 (episodes 16 to 25) - "Skeletons"

Unfolding from the tragedy that has the Ruscuiti family reeling, Shelley and Matthew use each other as crutches and grow closer over the course of Season 2. This tragedy also introduces Shelley to her magical heritage and a whole new world that she had no idea she was central to. In this season, secrets are revealed which tarnish Shelley's preconceptions about certain loved ones and challenge her understanding of the past. Some personal health issues are revealed along with a shocking admission by Matthew about the Ruscuiti family, which altogether close Season 2, "Skeletons".

Season 3 (episodes 26 to 34) - "Fantasy"

Things appear to be drifting back to normal in the Ruscuiti household, and with this there seems to be some return to chaos between Shelley and Matthew due to misunderstandings and revelations of Matthew's dalliances during Shelley's absence. It is clear, however, that Shelley and Matthew grow closer over the course of hilarious mishappenings and other romantic moments between the two of them. This season also provides shocking insight into the basis of the family tragedy and introduces a new complicating factor to Shelley and Matthew's budding relationship: Matthew's older brother, the degenerate drunk Alfred. Shelley helps him sober up and reevaluate his life, but his role in the story is unexpected. After a brief sequence in which tables are turned and Shelley is forced to lead Matthew on, Season 3, "Fantasy", ends with a heartracing confession from Matthew in the dead of night which will changes everything.

Season 4 (episodes 35 to 46) - "Savor"

This season introduces Shelley to an opportunity that requires her to be abroad for a period of months, something that makes Shelley uneasy with how her relationship with Matthew seems to be blossoming. Leaving California to go to England is bittersweet, but Matthew and Shelley make the most of their time together. In the midst of this, fear seeps in when Shelley and Matthew are confronted with mysterious instructions regarding a certain event that introduces a strange creature in Shelley's life. Matthew and Shelley fall deeply in love and this season centers around their passionate relationship. The season ends with Shelley coming back to California to celebrate the holidays, where Shelley encounters demons from her past but overcomes them with Matthew by her side. Closing the very end of this season is a shocking conversation demonstrating that traitors lie closer than one can even begin to conceive.

Season 5 (episodes 47 to 57) - "Whiplash"

As Shelley returns from England, the season opens with a shocking event that dispels one of Shelley's new truths in her once cozy life. As she reels from the emotional whiplash, she undergoes all five of the stages of grief, partaking in Spoken Word, a poetry group, to release some of her pent-up emotions. Eventually, Shelley recovers after a heated argument with Jolie and a disastrous confrontation, she starts to find that she is moving on from the tragedy that nearly broke her. Her Uncle Georgio consults for help from an unlikely source, and answers finally seem to be emerging before a shocking season finale that brings forth an old enemy -- a face seen only once before and previously considered irrelevant to the story.

Season 6 (episodes 58 to 71) - "Timeless"

As a close friend's wedding looms ahead in Shelley's calendar, she finds a nominal date in Mark, who not-so-subtly indicates his strong interest in Shelley. However, these one-sided feelings soon grow to become two-sided and Shelley and Mark find striking comfort in each other due to various similarities in their tragic pasts, which cushion the vast differences between their values and lifestyles. Just as Thanksgiving rolls around, only mere weeks after Shelley and Mark have started dating, they are faced with a magical crisis that pieces together unexplained events from the beginning of the story. After barely escaping with their lives intact, Shelley finds that she is traumatized by nightmares and that her magic has become inexplicably extinguished. Christmas holidays spent at home provide support for her emotional health and slightly repair her magic, and reveal surprising changes happening all around her, both in her immediate family and among the Ruscuitis. The season closes with a goal finally coming to fruition that reveals shocking things about Shelley, her heritage, and the two men in her life -- things that she never could have appreciated the depth of prior to these revelations. Nothing is as it seems, and although a million questions are answered, another million are generated. Battling with her past, Shelley is confronted with a choice -- but that must be put on hold because of a tragic event that closes the season.

Season 7 (episodes 72 to 88) - "Synchronize"

After a heartbreaking event drives Shelley back into the Ruscuiti's fold, she realizes that keeping her distance is unfair to the people she loves. Matthew becomes more casual around her despite how guarded and cold she is around him. However, this relatively peaceful state isn't meant to last for long because of awkward dreams that they both share, which begin to bleed into real life interactions. These confusing dreams, coupled with the awkwardness between Shelley and Matthew, who are now regularly running into each other, only create more tension when Shelley begins doubting her relationship with Mark after he pressures her into moving faster with their relationship than she wants. To make matters worse, Matthew appears to be "unlocking" the past somewhat, only adding to Shelley's unease and nostalgia, which bring her to Spoken Word, where she meets a kindred spirit, who may very well be the fifth key to the prophecy Shelley discovers at the end of Season 6. Meena and Shelley's friendship is only a temporary reprieve, however, for Shelley soon has to battle conflicting emotions while confronting ghosts of the past in current, tense situations. Her heart is stuck in the past, evidenced by how she synchronously "lives" with "Matthew" while asleep, while her mind tells her to focus on the present with Mark. A precipitating event drives Shelley to Spoken Word, where her emotional performance unexpectedly snowballs into a horrific confrontation between Shelley and Cynthia, eventually tangling Matthew. After Shelley loses her temper and rips his conscience apart, a shocking event manifests, which changes everything in their dynamic and forces Shelley to consider whether holding onto her hurt is really worth it. Now synchronously harboring feelings for both Matthew and Mark, Shelley is at the juncture of deciding between Destiny and Choice. However, Shelley is sidetracked when she is intercepted by an entity who brings her focus to unsolved, pressing mysteries of her life, tackling burning questions from the very start of the story with shocking answers that close many circles at the expense of Shelley's very sanity.

Season 8 (episodes 89 to 108) - "Shockwave"

Reeling from having her once-healed scars be now cut wide open, Shelley finds herself lost in a melancholy mood from which she is only distracted through wisdom that her Uncle Georgio offers. Much of their conversation involves him reminiscing about his past, through which Shelley learns shocking news about her beginning, and through this, the turbulent circle of life. Matthew struggles with the strange boundaries of his shifted relationship with Shelley, whereas Mark finds himself lost as to how to process the recent unraveling of his own heartbreak in the finale of the previous season. Matthew insists that Shelley attend Miriam's imminent golden birthday party (her 11th birthday), which Shelley eventually decides to with renewed peace. Spending the night and following morning with the Ruscuitis leaves Shelley conflicted as her natural chemistry with Matthew emerges effortlessly, whereas Matthew finds himself tortured by Shelley's presence and unconscious allure. Their building mutual tension finally comes to a head at Miriam's birthday party, where they find themselves lost in old memories. However, their nostalgia comes to a screeching halt with a harsh reminder of Shelley's current status as Mark's girlfriend in a showdown that leaves all three players in this unwitting triangle insecure and disturbed. This drives Matthew to an emotional return to his roots in art, which leaves Shelley stricken as she makes the decision to break this triangle once and for all by either reassuring Mark of her love or breaking up with him to freely rekindle her relationship with Matthew. The shock of betrayal leaves Shelley's decision made before she announces it, and this pulls Shelley further into a resentful mood that makes her attempt to push both men from her life. Matthew doesn't oblige, however, and he takes Shelley back to an emotional trip down memory lane, whereas Mark is condemning himself for the errors he has made recently. Tragedy unfolds and Mark desperately tries to earn Shelley's forgiveness in a powerful gesture of love, pinning his happiness completely on her. Shelley feels uncomfortable with this and tells Mark such, telling him that they both need space and time to grow outside of each other. Hopeless and hurt, Mark turns to an unacceptable solution for his pain, which causes Shelley to short circuit from the overwhelming pressure on her at the moment. As she makes an emergent getaway on a Spring Break workshop with business students to get away from the sources of her stress, Matthew is coincidentally on that same trip, frustrating Shelley to no end. Initially, they find themselves in deep conflict and awkward tension as isolated ex-lovers in rural Montana, but this changes after Shelley's life is put in danger, after which they find themselves tangled in a passionate rediscovery of their their revived attraction and love. While recovering from the threat of danger, Shelley's memory of her most recent life is finally provoked and so now she remembers critical events from her most recent life as Vivienne. This helps Shelley piece together her destiny and she slowly determines what must be done in order to extinguish the evil pressing her life. Although things between Shelley and Matthew are purposely platonic upon her return to California, Shelley is busy attending to her family and friends during her several months of being single, during which time she and her uncle are preparing to meet her looming destiny against an evil entity that had manipulated their lives for far too long. These plans are sidetracked, however, with a shocking revelation that forces Shelley to confront heartbreak, hurt, and her own identity as she grapples with worth, wants, and unfulfilled dreams that will never be hers.

Season 9 (episodes 109 to 118) - "Freefall"

TBA.

Season 10 (episodes 118 to 132) - "Lifeline"

TBA.

List of Episodes

Season 1 - "Heartbreak"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
1	1	"Of Gilded Times and Broken Words"
2	2	"Dizzying Heights"
3	3	"Such Familiar Trenches"
4	4	"Spinning Heartstrings"
5	5	"No Answers For The Wicked"
6	6	"Faded Glory"
7	7	"A Touch of Frost"
8	8	"Look Away"
9	9	"Adore Me"
10	10	"Tea Party"
11	11	"Marginally Enthused"
12	12	"Fear and Tears"
13	13	"A Language More Lovely Than Speaking"
14	14	"A Prayer For The Drowning"
15	15	"Of Demons and Darlings"

Season 2 - "Skeletons"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
16	1	"The Midnight Queen"
17	2	"Haunted"
18	3	"Revelations"
19	4	"The Bones of Her Past"
20	5	"Gone Girl"
21	6	"Safe and Sound"
22	7	"Hold Me"
23	8	"Emotional Motions"
24	9	"Family Reunion"
25	10	"Abnormal Normalcy"

Season 3 - "Fantasy"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
26	1	"Endless Simmer"
27	2	"Sweet Yellow Daffodils"
28	3	"When I Look In Your Eyes"
29	4	"Sparks"
30	5	"Chasing Dreams"
31	6	"The Elementalists"
32	7	"A Tiny Little Problem"
33	8	"Turning Tables"
34	9	"Ripple"

Season 4 - "Savor"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
35	1	"Happy Drug"
36	2	"The Weight of Silence"
37	3	"Cocoon"
38	4	"Kisses, Tempers and Cocktails"
39	5	"Crying Again"
40	6	"When I'm Gone"
41	7	"A Thousand Miles"
42	8	"A Gift of Time"
43	9	"Legends and Lessons"
44	10	"The Virgin's Gift"
45	11	"Beauty in Blood"
46	12	"Mistletoe and Other Drugs"

Season 5 - "Whiplash"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
47	1	"Something I Can Never Have"
48	2	"Fragile Truths"
49	3	"Emotional Tailspin"
50	4	"Bitchology"
51	5	"Cry of the Wounded"
52	6	"The Grave of Our Love"
53	7	"Finding Coffins"
54	8	"Makeshift Burial"
55	9	"Black Keys Play Music Too"
56	10	"What'd I Miss?"
57	11	"Freak Show"

Season 6 - "Timeless"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
58	1	"Waltzing This Hour"
59	2	"Trickling Seconds"
60	3	"Turning Hands"
61	4	"Ticking Timebomb"
62	5	"Broken Clockface"
63	6	"Hellish Burning Questions"
64	7	"Tailgater's Song"
65	8	"Over My Dead Body"
66	9	"Operation Hourglass"
67	10	"Missing Blessings"
68	11	"Wary Christmas"
69	12	"The Cards We've Been Dealt"
70	13	"A Millennial Love"
71	14	"Secrets of The Century"

Season 7 - "Synchronize"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
72	1	"Shrinking Violets"
73	2	"Blooming Darlings"
74	3	"Sour by Sunset"
75	4	"Swinging Pendulums"
76	5	"Clockwise Spiral"
77	6	"The Fifth Emissary"
78	7	"Surface Tension"
79	8	"A Prisoner to Slumber"
80	9	"Perfection's Reflection"
81	10	"Wallflower's Song"
82	11	"Destiny's Pain"
83	12	"Wasted Splendor"
84	13	"Broken Constellations"
85	14	"Suffocating"
86	15	"The Gate to Closure"
87	16	"The Reaper's Lover"
88	17	"Killing Clocks"

Season 8 - "Shockwave"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
89	1	"Fractured Aftermath"
90	2	"Cringing Hearts"
91	3	"Dance of Electrons"
92	4	"Full Circuit"
93	5	"Frivolous Loss"
94	6	"Pretty Green Things"
95	7	"A Trail of Teardrops"
96	8	"Selfish Sacrifice"
97	9	"Slipping"
98	10	"Stubborn Pigeonholes"
99	11	"Treacherous Lips"
100	12	"Poker Face"
101	13	"Heartthrobs & Cold Showers"
102	14	"Watercolor Dreams"
103	15	"And All That Could Have Been"
104	16	"Tangled Constellations"
105	17	"Wrestling Sins"
106	18	"Riddles in the Stars"
107	19	"Hopscotch"
108	20	"Strangled Lovebirds"

Season 9 - "Freefall"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
109	1	"Heart like Fine China"
110	2	"Whimsical Wishes"
111	3	"Drama Vampires"
112	4	"Brewing Distress"
113	5	"Caesar Salad"
114	6	"The Evolution of Bitchiness"
115	7	"Pretty Hate"
116	8	"Sleep"
117	9	"What Not Who"
118	10	"String My Heart Not Hope To Die"

Season 10 - "Lifeline"

No. in   series	No. in   season	Title
119	1	"No Thrones in Hell"
120	2	"Does it Tickle when I Scream"
121	3	"Waking Nightmare" (#SHARK alternate ending)
122	4	"Bittersweet Symmetry"
123	5	"Searing Mascara"
124	6	"A Campaign of Misery"
125	7	"This Time Along"
126	8	"The Momentum of Laughter"
127	9	"Namesakes & Other Treasures"
128	10	"When Finally Happens"
129	11	"Beach I Do's & Lingerie"
130	12	"Promise Me a Red Wedding"
131	13	"All My Children"
132	14	"Of Weathered Fields and Withered Souls" (#EMPRESS cannon ending)

Characters

Main Characters

• Michelle "Shelley" Maria Manzo - Majinnee: Shelley is the main protagonist of the story. She is 17 at the start of the story, 18 during seasons 2-4, 19 at the beginning of season 5 and age 20 by the end. She is sometimes called "Shells" by her friends, "Principessa" by her Uncle and Papa, or "Princess" by Matthew. She has had a difficult past after having a lovely childhood, but she demonstrates striking perseverance and optimism. Shelley is a loyal and committed person, and she is finds it very hard to let go of a relationship even if it is not a productive one. This, in part, explains her strong devotion to Matthew despite their turbulent reunion. Despite this weakness, she is an intelligent and successful young woman. She states that her second love is "science" and specifically engages in cancer research, which she hopes can help individuals like her mother, who had cancer. Shelley was a smart child, progressing through school very quickly (progressing to the same grade as Matthew when they were kids, despite Matthew being two and a half years older than her), and impressing those who supervised her in the lab after initial distrust and hard work on her part. From a very young age, Shelley says she mapped out her life and always considered herself a dreamer and planner. Her two best friends are her cousins, Jolie and Bella, who she first met when she was 13. She is a very nurturing and warm person, is religious and has traditional values, and is very emotional to the point of being moody. Like most Cancers, Shelley has very motherly tendencies and perspectives, which explains why she looks out for her younger brother, Stephen, as well as Matthew's little sister, Miriam. If anyone can be a mother to the world, it's Shelley; ironically, however, she can't bear her own children, which is probably why she takes this truth so .
• Matthew Ruscuiti - Majinn. Matthew was Shelley's first crush and her childhood best friend. He is 20 at the start of the story, but he turns 21 in Season 4 and is 23 by the end of Season 6. Matthew's presence is significantly smaller in Seasons 5 and 6 for reasons that will come clear when reading. Even with two and a half years between them, Shelley and Matthew were in the same grade. When Shelley was bullied as a preteen, Matthew would always defend her, which, coupled with her romantic idealizations and their fathers expressing interest in having their children get married one day, made her fall for him. He loved writing poetry as a child, and was a "soft" and artistic boy, qualities in him that his mother adored. In Chapter 3, "Such Familiar Trenches", when Shelley returned to California after five years of not seeing him, she was shocked to see how much had changed. Matthew was no longer emotional or sensitive, and couldn't "remember the last time [he] wrote a poem". Instead, he had become the Quarterback for the Stanford Cardinals and maintained the image of a player even though it was fake (the reason for this ploy is revealed in Season 4). Throughout Season 1, Shelley is hurt when Matthew plays with her love for him, but a family tragedy that closes Season 1 draws them together and forces Matthew to reevaluate his priorities. His greatest love in life is his little sister, who he calls "mia cucciola" (my little puppy) or "Miri-Pie", which Shelley finds extremely endearing. Teasing how Shelley's father called her, Matthew often calls her "Princess", and "Shells" when the moment is serious, like he used to when they were kids. Shelley, in return, often calls him "Emmy" in heartfelt times, or "Casanova" when teasing him. Because he bears a striking resemblance to Disney's Aladdin, his friends (and sometimes Shelley) call him "Aladdin", or when upset, Shelley calls him "Genie Boy". Shelley is somehow strangely drawn to Matthew despite him being difficult to figure out, contradictory, and manipulative. He is magnetic but often cold, with a well-controlled and intense exterior appearance. However, once Shelley and Matthew recognize their mutual love for each other, Shelley finds that he is intensely loyal, romantic, passionate and protective of those he loves. Shelley states in Chapter 52 regarding Matthew: "It is very difficult to break into his shell, but when you finally do... you breathlessly see so much passion, sensitivity and protectiveness in him that it's almost scary and yet, strangely rewarding, to witness how deep his emotional rivers flow." As seen later in the story, once committed, Matthew dives 10 miles deep and is very protective. Born on November 4, he is a child of Scorpio.

Other Significant Characters

• Marcus "Mark" James Holmes: - Plaiyn. Mark makes his first appearance in Chapter 1 and again in Chapter 3, although it is not revealed until Chapter 8 who the reconciling factors truly are. Shelley has her first date with Mark, who demonstrates kindness, genuine romantic interest, and very gentleman-like behavior to her despite their very turbulent past. Mark is patient and devoted, a man with fine tastes and an appreciation for luxuries that life has to offer. He is a romantic man and loves to be spoiled. However, he works hard, too, and would never give up, to the point of being called stubborn. A holder of grudges, judgmental, and cuttingly blunt when needed, Mark can often remind Shelley of Matthew -- just less complicated and with higher standards. His mother was a Majinnee, and he had a rough childhood (spoilers in the entries for his parents). He soon becomes Shelley's second boyfriend. Born on May 16, he is a child of Taurus.
• Miriam Ruscuiti - Majinnee. Miriam is Matthew's younger sister and the light of his life. Shelley calls her "sugar", and Matthew often calls her "mia cuciolla" (my little puppy) or "Miri-Pie". She loves to remind people that she is 8-and-a-half years old and is the source of significant joy and humor in the story. She shows great love and compassion, cries easily, but is also prone to angry outbursts ordering peace in a conflict. Miriam strongly detests fighting and conflicts and takes it in her hands to resolve them if it is needed. She demonstrates surprisingly manipulative tendencies, but her heart is always in the right place. Miriam has an imaginary friend named "Pinkalina", and adopts a lisp to convince others to do her bidding. Several instances confirm that she knows an ungodly amount of swear words but quickly corrects herself, thinking no one caught on. She enjoys using her imagination, is on a "constant sugar high" as Shelley affectionately states, and is a huge fan of Disney movies, especially if watching them involves a sleepover. Because she is relatively lonely and "in her own world" at school, she idolizes Shelley and Matthew, and warms up to Alfred as well, although she was uneasy of him at first because of his haggard appearance. She and Stephen have a relationship characterized by petty bickering, which is a source of comic relief to the families. She has a smart mouth and it is apparent that she is spoiled as the true "baby" of the family. Despite this, Miriam is a dreamer... she is sensitive, imaginative, very kind, perceptive and forgiving. These features also make her needy, easy to take advantage of, and a bit of a pansy in that she can't stand up for herself, but she is the definition of a sweetheart. Her prowess in healing magic is a nod to her astrological sign's angelic quality. Unlike her other Water companions, Miriam can comfortably forgive and forget, whereas the other two are more keen on holding grudges. Born on March 11, she is a child of Pisces.
• Julietta "Jolie" Lola Manzo - Majinnee. Jolie is one of Shelley's two best friends/adoptive sisters, along with Bella, and is the oldest biological daughter of Georgio (Shelley's paternal uncle) and Gianna Manzo, thus being Shelley's cousin. Bella and Shelley often call her "Jules". She is younger than Shelley by almost exactly a year and older than Bella by a little more than a year (though she and Bella are in the same grade). Jolie shows a strong interest in fashion and design, and her favorite brand is reputably Prada, which is surprising considering her father's attitude towards consumerism and materialistic spending. She was the Cheerleading Captain in high school, leading Bella and other girls through cheerleading. Jolie is shown to be sassy, bubbly, and sometimes blunt, and is generally quite flirtatious. She is always seen wearing dresses. She enjoys life and all that it has to offer, is the life of any party, is always very warm, and seems to enjoy attention. In Chapter 31, "The Elementalists", it is revealed that Jolie is a child of Fire and would thus be training with Seraphina the Jinn, with whom she has a difficult relationship owing to their mutual fierceness. It is also revealed in this chapter that her brunette hair transformed in a matter of days into blond, representing fire, and that she used her "fire abilities" to gain a social advantage among her peers. She strongly resembles her mother. Her skills in design and transformation are a nod to fire representing change and being "fast" and with Fire Signs being "spirits in motion". She favors animal prints and metallics, favoring the colors red and orange. Jolie's interests lie in fashion design and magazine editing, evidenced by her internships in Vogue and Kate Spade during high school. Her talent in home decoration is seen in Chapter 48, "Fragile Truths", where she also shows striking compassion for Shelley. With a Lion's heart, she is very protective of her loved ones, although she can be a flirt and also a little vain. Born on August 7, she is a child of Leo.
• Isabella "Bella" Fiora Manzo - Majinnee. Bella is one of Shelley's two best friends/adoptive sisters, along with Jolie, and is the youngest biological daughter of Georgio (Shelley's paternal uncle) and Gianna Manzo, thus being Shelley's cousin. Jolie and Shelley often call her "Bells". She is younger than Shelley by almost two years and younger than Jolie by almost a year; however, she is mentioned to have skipped a year and is in the same grade as Jolie, evidencing that she is smart. Bella is seen as compassionate, sweet, and mild, always having a shoulder to cry on. She is a good listener, very charming, generally tactful (unlike her sister, who is more blunt), a believer in justice, rarely cunning, and quite diplomatic. Bella upholds fairness and equity, and values courtesy and good manners, often sighing over Jolie's coquettishness. She is often seen teasing Stephen, probably delighted that she is no longer the youngest in the family since Stephen is around. Bella favors the colors blue and yellow. Shelley describes her face as "elegant" and "peaceful". Balance is very important to her and she is a sucker for old-school romance with a Prince Charming and a Knight in Shining Armor. In Chapter 31, "The Elementalists", it is revealed that Bella is a child of Air and would thus be training with Aya the Faerie, with whom she shares a harmonious, sweet friendship. She is passionate about animal welfare and dreams of becoming a veterinarian. It has been shown that she can speak to Salma, as well as reportedly a dove. When she heard about Salma's mistreatment, Bella started crying. In Chapter 48, "Fragile Truths", Bella shows surprising ferocity against Matthew, punching him and swearing at him in outrage on behalf of Shelley. Although she may sometimes appear indecisive or superficial, Bella is always a pleasant person, is hardly one to upset others and is very quick to compromise. Born on September 28, she is a child of Libra.
• Teresa Irma Ruscuiti - Plaiyn. Teresa is Matthew's sentimental mother, who is like a second mother to Shelley owing to their families being very close over Shelley's childhood. When Shelley returns to California, Teresa dotes over Shelley like a daughter and it is apparent over the course of the seasons that she favors Matthew dating Shelley, on some occasions even openly saying that she wishes Shelley was a daughter to her. Teresa is a down-to-earth woman but possesses very fine taste. She has an eye for beauty, and she loves comfort, lavishness, and being pampered. She is a romantic, sensual, and beautiful woman... reliable, patient, and practical at her best, but stubborn and self-indulgent at her worst. She and Jolie took to each other very well, designing the holiday outfits worn in Chapter 46, "Mistletoe and Other Drugs". Shelley often admires Teresa's choice is dress and also appreciates the fabulous gifts that she chooses. In Chapter 31, "The Elementalists", Shelley recalls that Teresa sees Alfred as her sunshine (brightly shining and the pride of her eyes) and Matthew as her flowers (sweet-smelling and needing nurturing). She calls Matthew her "little man", and since Miriam is significantly younger than her other children, Matthew is somewhat a "baby" to her. Miriam is definitely her "baby" though, evidenced several times in Season 2. Teresa is prone to dramatic explanations and outbursts, and has a quick, vulgar tongue if angered. In Seasons 2 and 4, more about her dysfunctional marriage with Caesare is revealed, and in Season 2, Shelley briefly becomes very angry with Teresa over a horrific revelation (not detailed here due to spoilers). Shelley remarks that Teresa feels "more like a mom to me" than her Aunt Gianna, and that they somehow "click". Indeed, Teresa is one of Shelley's best friends in some ways, and Shelley shows strong love for Teresa, who she feels is very strong but sometimes shows evidenced of being "weathered" by life. The care and warm feelings Teresa has for Shelley are deep and extremely evident from her loving actions and words. When Shelley leaves abroad, Teresa remarks that she worries how lonely she will be without Shelley's chirpy "Good morning!" and company. The first time Shelley left after her parents passed away, Teresa bids Shelley an emotional farewell, ordering Shelley to "be strong", which is a mantra that carries Shelley through many difficult circumstances in her life. Indeed, Teresa has always been a sort of "anchor" to Shelley... her home away from home, and definitely family that she chose. Born on April 25, she is a child of Taurus.
• Caesare Ruscuiti - Plaiyn. Caesare is Matthew's father, and was a friend of Shelley's father from when they were teenagers. Shelley remarks that her father and Matthew's father were almost like "brothers" at times. In a flashback to her childhood in Chapter 6, "Faded Glory", Shelley says that her father was enthused and giddy when Matthew's father expressed interest in Shelley marrying into the family when she grew up, which crystallizes Shelley's hope that she can indeed marry Matthew one day. When Shelley returns to California, Caesare is kind to Shelley but is mostly distant with his emotions, his big priority in life being his company and the money he makes from it. Indeed, Caesare's love of wealth and ostentatious spending creates fodder for debate and disagreement between him and Shelley's Uncle Georgio, who dislikes materialism. In Seasons 2 and 4, it is revealed that there are significant issues in his marriage to Teresa, which creates deep resentment between Matthew and his father. Several scenes in the story remark on Caesare's terribly misplaced sense of fashion, which adds significant humor to the story. Born on January 15, he is a child of Capricorn.
• Alfred Ruscuiti - Plaiyn. Alfred is Matthew's degenerate older brother, who does not make his first appearance until Chapter 30, "Chasing Dreams". His relationship with Matthew has been competitive and rocky from a very early age, and it is only when a terrible mistake is made that he decides to turn his life around. He shows some interest in Shelley, but ultimately falls in love with Miriam's teacher, Mika, with whom he has a passionate relationship. Born on August 13, he is a child of Leo.
• Maureen Ruscuiti - UNKNOWN. Matthew's deceased older sister. Born on October 31, she is a child of Scorpio.
• Georgia Vito Manzo "Uncle Georgio" / "Papa" - Majinn. Shelley's paternal uncle and legal guardian (father's younger brother), who she often calls "Papa" in times of distress or vulnerability, because he reminds her so much of him. Georgio rescued Shelley and Stephen from an abusive foster home and shows great compassion and love for them, although he is strict and particular about their welfare. Georgio is a humble family-oriented man who enjoys living plainly, and he and his wife have a simple but loving relationship. Georgio is a man of the military, following a long family tradition, and was estranged from his older brother and only other sibling, Carlo. He is thus very principled, stubborn, and proudly particular about his life choices. He is a strict but loving guardian, showing warm concern and duty towards all of his children. It is implied that Shelley and Bella are his favorites. Similar to his brother (Shelley's Papa), he calls only Shelley by the term "Principessa", which is Italian for Princess. He dislikes ostentatious and embellished displays or concerns about money, which results in friction between him and Caesare and frequent jibes between them (as it did between him and Carlo). However, this friction does not transfer to his relationship with Matthew, since they connected over mutual interests in traveling. Indeed, Georgio seems to agree with his late older brother (Shelley's father) in his opinion of Matthew, stating more than once, "I really like that boy...'' and sometimes even calling him his "future son". Born on June 22, he is a child of Cancer.
• Gianna Geneva Manzo "Aunt Gianna" - Majinnee. Shelley's father's younger brother's wife. Shelley reveals in Chapter 6, "Faded Glory", that it took some time for her to warm up to her aunt following her bad experience with Tess. But Gianna is clearly loving and compassionate, although she is "busy" and sometimes distant. She concealed Shelley's heritage when it resurfaced in Chapter 5, "No Answers For The Wicked", showing skepticism and a protective personality. In Chapter 24, "Family Reunion", Gianna shows concern for Shelley and feels great sadness at the misfortune that meets Shelley. It is suggested many times that her favorite child is Stephen, who she dotes over and adores even though she has no blood relationship towards him. Despite all of this, Shelley openly admits in Chapter 36, "The Weight of Silence", that Aunt Gianna does not feel like a mother to her, and only carries the more distant role of aunt in her life, unlike Uncle Georgio, who she often mistakenly calls Papa. Instead, she states that Teresa feels more like a mother to her, somehow clicking with her better. Shelley states regarding her health that Aunt Gianna "knows but it's awkward for her and I don't think she understands how I feel.'' Regardless of this, Shelley clearly loves her and Gianna loves Shelley as well. Born on October 3, she is a child of Libra.
• Stephen Elmo Manzo - Majinn. Stephen, often called "Steve" or, much to his chagrin and upset, "Stevie Bear", is Shelley's intelligent but aggressive younger brother. In Season 1, Shelley tells Matthew that he is 13, suggesting that She and Stephen have almost 5 years between them. Shelley was and remains very protective of him, especially while they lived with abusive foster parents after they were orphaned. In his early youth, he was stubborn but easy to manipulate, and harbored great affection for Matthew, who adored him as well and called him "Stevie Bear" (like teddy bear), and "sport" or "champ". As he has gotten older, he carries the pretense of sarcasm and abhorring anything to do with displays of affection or other "gross" things, but it is clear that he and Shelley have a deep connection and that he depends on her affection and approval. Stephen has shown that he is not afraid of using his fist to get points across or get revenge, and he shows little interest in keeping peace if his emotions flare. He is reportedly Aunt Gianna's "favorite", and she dotes on him as their only "son" since he was adopted into their home. Uncle Georgio treasures him as a son as well, but with his background in the military, he plays out his role as a strict and disciplining father eager to take his "son" to do "man things" together. Stephen and Miriam share a relationship characterized by many little spats and arguments. Although his middle name is Elmo, Stephen more so resembles Oscar the Grouch. Born on March 29, he is a child of Aries.
• Cynthia Montgomery - Plaiyn. Shelley's childhood bully and SPOILER alert: Matthew's first girlfriend. Miriam describes her as being unpleasant and "fake". She becomes Matthew's girlfriend when both her and Shelley start college. Cynthia may seem to be a wealthy, spoiled, and entitled person, but there is more that meets the eye when it comes to her, especially near the end of the story. Born on July 26, she is a child of Leo.
• Meena Sharma - Majinnee. She makes her first appearance in Season 7. Initially spotted in the audience in one of Shelley's poetry readings. She is Shelley's friend from a past life as "Genevieve". Born on December 31, she is a child of Capricorn.

Supporting Characters

• Carlo Enzo Manzo "Papa" - Majinn. Shelley's father, who allegedly committed suicide and murdered his wife when Shelley was 13. Shelley is very confused by her emotions for him, because before that sudden episode, he was the "perfect" father, and often talks about him in two forms: "the Papa I remember" and "the suicidal man who killed Mamma". When Shelley encounters him in the Meadows, she learns several things about him that shake her preconceived image of him as a murderer regarding that tragic episode, and when she returns to life, she learns things about him that shake her image of "the Papa she remembers" as a perfect husband and father. When she visits her parents' graves in Chapter 36, "The Weight of Silence", she describes her Papa as someone who loved telling stories with all kinda of details, someone who loved building things, someone who loved Christmas, and someone who loved telling jokes and doling out pranks. Shelley describes him as affectionate and on the same boat as Teresa in wanting Shelley to have been with Matthew, calling it a "dream" to have Shelley be "the key" that unites the Manzo and Ruscuiti families. He and Matthew's father knew each other as kids and were supposedly "like brothers". The way Shelley describes him, he demonstrated great love for Shelley and his family, great pride in her, and apparently tried to protect her from bullying episodes at school. One common expression that Shelley ascribes to him is "his teasing eyebrows", especially when it came to Matthew. He broke tradition of going into the military and instead pursued a lucrative career in business, and this resulted in a divide between him and his family. In fact, he was estranged from his younger brother Georgio, which is why his orphaned children did not directly go to him until he appealed to Georgio through visits in dreams. Born on August 14, he is a child of Leo.
• Sienna Sofia Manzo "Mamma" - Majinnee. Shelley's mother, who was stricken with cancer but was killed by her husband in a tragic murder-suicide (implied to be uncertain). She bears a striking resemblance to Shelley, which many individuals note, such as Matthew's father, and Shelley herself in the first chapter, "Of Gilded Times and Broken Words", and when she visits her parents' graves in Chapter 36, "The Weight of Silence", where Shelley says, "Now, when I put lip gloss on as I look in the mirror, I see your face staring back at me because we look so alike... but you were always more beautiful, Mamma... you always were." She is only seen in the story though flashbacks. In Chapter 6, "Faded Glory", and again in Chapter 24, "Family Reunion", Shelley reveals that her mother disliked the idea of her daughter having a crush or of having an interest in planning her future adult life. Shelley describes her mother as warm, devoted, and desiring "perfection" in her life. Born on December 24, she is a child of Capricorn.
• Queen Cornelia Ceto - Water Nymph / Mermaid / Nereid. Water Elementalist. Her ruling element is Air, but her Elemental mastery is Water due to her aquatic habitat and her astrological sign: Aquarius. Cornelia demonstrates a friendly, relaxed demeanor. She is intellectual, inquisitive, mature, peacemaking, and creates her own rules. Cornelia is quirky and pleasant, unpredictable at times but this only complements her excellence at didactic instruction and makes her a wonderful, fun teacher for Shelley. She loves collecting human artifacts, such as the whistle she wears around her neck, which she calls a "charm" that makes an "abominable sound" that she happens to love. When teaching Shelley how to teleport, choosing "parachute" as a modeling mechanism prompted Cornelia to call them "Air Jellies", showing that she loves studying the world above the water and ascribing her own terms and understanding to these phenomena. Although she may appear aloof at times and be hard to become close to, Cornelia is committed to people she cares about and passionate about them as she is to her ideals. Born on January 24, she is a child of Aquarius.
• Vesta Terra - Tree Nymph / Tree Faerie / Dryad. Earth Elementalist. As a Dryad, Vesta is "very in tune with Mother Earth and her bounties." The Dryads have no ruling bodies because they are a communal society. They operate under the principle that everyone has an equal say in our decisions, an equal worth, and equal contribution to our society. Vesta is very proud of this and holds this conviction dear, which is evident when she states, "We are a culture of fairness and equity. Even with my gifts in Elemental Mastery in Earth, I am regarded as no more special in our community." Her fun fact is that she can rap, and her rap in Chapter 31, "The Elementalists", showed knowledge of immunology and how it related to the less delicate plants Mother Nature offers (in other words, Poison Ivy). Vesta has an eye for detail, loves being busy, and will gladly create and keep to schedules and lists. Always analyzing and totally in her element when suggesting advice or remedies to problems, Vesta is the lady to come to for troubleshooting. At times her tendency to analyze will come across as criticism and might make her appear distant and boring, but Vesta always means best. Because Shelley's group does not have an "Earth girl", Vesta had to recuse from the training sessions since her skills would not be as beneficial to the group. Uncle Georgio stated that it was important to find Vesta's mentee, because without that, they were at a disadvantage, suggesting that Vesta might be back. Born on September 6, she is a child of Virgo.
• Seraphina the Jinn - Fire Nymph / Jinn. Fire Elementalist. Seraphina is a born leader, independent, assertive and hates to be told what to do. She has no royal title because it is common truth that she is the born leader among the Jinn. She has the plan for any situation and is a very brave soul. If her pride is hurt, she will burn harshly, and her bark is often as bad as her bite. She may come across as arrogant at times, but she doesn't realize it... that's just her being independent and taking charge of a situation she has the "best" plan for. She is Jolie's mentor, and Jolie is intimidated by her but the bravest out of the trio, so most apt to be paired with her. Indeed, their fiery tempers and bold natures make them clash often in their training sessions. Seraphina, despite admitting herself that she is pone to experiencing friction with others, shows striking generosity (although she begrudgingly shows it). For example, when Shelley was in need to make a life-saving potion for a loved one (not revealed because of spoilers), Seraphina was quick to offer a vital ingredient that would require sacrifice on her part. When Shelley attempted to show her gratitude with a hug, Seraphina bluntly pushed her away and said she doesn't "do hugs". Like all the Jinn, Seraphina's eyes are green. Born on April 1, she is a child of Aries.
• Duchess Aya Nightingale - Air Nymph / Air Faerie/ Faerie. Air Elementalist. Aya is the Duchess among the Air Faeries (traditionally known in myth and folklore), and she loves communication, is bubbly, and loves new experiences and variety. Aya is chatty and entertaining, eager and versatile, and she knows a little bit about everything. She may seem a little scatter-brained and "fleeting" at times, but really, that's just Aya wanting to know a little bit about everything and hoping to have "just a taste" more of the dozen things offered to her on the platter of life. Curiosity is her middle name, and this fickle fairy will leave you in wonder with how rapidly she, her interests, and her mind, move. She is Bella's mentor, much to their mutual delight, and they get along perfectly. She first met Shelley in the same chapter she met Daphne, and provided Shelley with the signets that would allow her magic to be immune to attempts to conceal it. Born on May 26, she is a child of Gemini.
• Mika Alvarez - Plaiyn. Mika, or as Miriam calls her, "Ms. Alvarez", is Miriam's teacher. She is young and a new teacher, with Miriam's class only being her second one. She is of Filipino descent. When Miriam calls her over to the Ruscuiti family dinner table in Chapter 38, "Kisses, Tempers and Cocktails", Mika shows strong affection for Miriam, calling her a "favorite". When Alfred sneaks up behind her, she and him show undeniable chemistry, which eventually blossoms into a stable relationship. Mika is cool, friendly, and glamorous. It is implied that Stephen has a crush on her when she kisses his cheek at the New Year's Eve party at Ruscuiti Manor. Born on April 28, she is a child of Taurus.
• Shannon the Wise - Majinnee. Shannon the Wise is a famous Seer and notoriously nomadic, making her practically impossible to trace. She will make her appearance in Season 5. It is implied that she is a free spirit and is likely the only individual with reliable insight into Shelley's mysterious destiny. She is certainly marked for her philosophical nature if not for her creative and independent thinking, futurist-oriented and dreamy quality, and restlessness. She will never be tied down and it's challenging for her to forge deep emotional connections. These features make her an apt Seer, which is a fancy word for psychic, as well as an experienced nomadic traveler, whose philosophies and profound thought are nurtured through adventure.With ginger hair and light blue eyes, this Scottish beauty promises to reveal shocking information about Shelley's past lives and future destiny. Born on December 13, she is a child of Sagittarius.
• Queen Gwyneira - Jinn. Water Elementalist but her powers manifest in ice. Not much is known about her, except that she appears to be the "prototypical Ice Queen" and that she inflicted a nasty punishment on Matthew as a form of "tough love" as he called it. She lives in the timbers and hardly leaves there. Appearance unknown. Born on January 1, she is a child of Capricorn.
• Daphne the Gate Jinn - Fire Nymph / Jinn. She first appears in Chapter 15, "Of Demons and Darlings", as Shelley's first introduction to the Majinn world. As a Gate Jinn, Daphne guards the gate to the underworld, which consists of both Heaven and Hell and is where souls dwell after death. She patiently and thoroughly educates Shelley about her existence, prior legends, Majinn history, and teaches her some elementary magic. She also takes Shelley to the "Meadows of Asphodel", which is where the souls of the dead dwell before passing on to their final destiny, and thus represents the "in-between land" between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Daphne is funny and somewhat unpredictable, and yet with a stiff and traditional manner of speaking, which Shelley considers strange. Upon first seeing her, Shelley remarks that the "alluring" Daphne is "inhumanly tall, willowy and she glowed brightly, as though she were a candle..." Like all Jinn, Daphne's eyes are green. Born on August 18, she is a child of Leo.

• Astrid the Sage / Salma - Majinnee. Astrid famously "possessed the Eye of the Seer", and was thus widely known as "Astrid the Sage Mage", or more simply, "Astrid the Sage". Enamored by celestial bodies, she was the first originator of the astrological zodiac 12 sign model, and was the third Majinnee to ever walk the world. She also had "Norse and Asian heritage". Her expertise in astrology and diviation made her "extremely well sought". Cursed with time magic by a powerful but unknown entity (who was not a Majinn but also human), Astrid was rendered as a Majinnee cat before being reincarnated by Shelley and Matthew (due to mysterious instructions) as a "Shadow Cat", which is more formally known as a Jinn cat (Salma). Salma no longer has The Sight, but retained and is able to exploit to her advantage the time-magic aspect of the curse. First born as Astrid on November 27, she was a child of Sagittarius, like most people with "The Sight".
• Vivienne - Briefly seen only in a dream that Shelley had in Chapter 13, "A Language More Lovely Than Speaking", Vivienne appears to be searching for Denver, but finds that Arch Lucifer Vossler has taken away her magic with a talisman. We only know from the dream that she wishes to escape with Denver and that she screams when Vossler curses her. She bears striking physical similarity to Shelley, which surprises her when she wakes up from her dream.
• Denver - Briefly seen only in a dream that Shelley had in Chapter 13, "A Language More Lovely Than Speaking", Denver appears to be hurt and urges his love, Vivienne, to escape when she finds him. He bears striking physical similarity to Matthew, which surprises Shelley when she wakes up from her dream.
• Arch Lucifer Vossler - Briefly seen only in a dream that Shelley had in Chapter 13, "A Language More Lovely Than Speaking", Lucifer appears to be an antagonist to the other characters in the dream, Vivienne and Denver, who are trying to escape. He calls Vivienne "my little pixie" and uses other condescending terms to denigrate her as he hurts her, having taken away her magic using a talisman. His physical appearance suggests that he has been wounded and scarred, with half of his face appearing abnormally constructed.
• Queen Genevieve - Majinnee. Revealed in Chapter 15 to be Shelley's first life and remarkably, the first human-Jinn hybrid (Majinnee since she was a female), Genevieve was informally considered the "Queen" of the human (whoever recognized and accepted magic) and Jinn worlds, collectively referred to as "Evelia" in her honor. As Daphne relates to Shelley, this first life was heralded as "Genevieve", which means "of the race of women", since she was the very first among women (and all humans overall) to be endowed with gifts of the Jinn. She was "the first to be borne of and thus, also have power over both demons (the Jinns) and darlings (humans)." Daphne tells Shelley that Genevieve's soul never truly dies... only entering a state of "hibernation" when the corporeal form of each life passes away, and that the soul of Genevieve is "reborn intermittently into different lives, each journey a brilliant story of its own... each life with a destined prophecy to fulfill." Genevieve was legendary for her powerful gifts in necromancy, which is soul magic involving the dead. The "Meadows of Asphodel" are where the souls of the dead dwell before passing on to their final destiny, and thus represents the "in-between land" between the world of the living and the world of the dead. She has been nicknamed "A.D." during her existences for either the "Ambassador of Death" or the "Asphodel Drifter". Shelley’s Papa tells her when she meets in in the Meadows that she was also called “Mother of the Meadows”, and Kat calls her “my Midnight Queen”. All Majinn folk have the potential to communicate with spirits of the underworld, but only Shelley has been known to enter the in-between realm as a living soul and advise, meet with, and communicate with the souls that are making their journey in the Meadows of Asphodel. Shelley discovers during her terrain in the Meadows that she retains significant wisdom and instinct regarding troubled souls that can’t move on from the in-between realm. In Chapter 26, “Endless Simmer”, when Shelley has a dream about her first life as Genevieve, it is revealed that the origin of Genevieve (which was previously unknown and only described as a potential legend by Daphne) was definitely from a Jinn father (seed of a Jinn) and Plaiyn human mother. It is also revealed that Genevieve was not living as royalty, instead living among humans and widely considered “the local barmy”, according to her cousin Sarah. It was also revealed that Genevieve fancied a Plaiyn man named Joseph, with whom she wanted to be with but could not because of her strange reputation and abilities. Sarah reveals facts about Genevieve’s role and positive impact in the real world as well as the Meadows as she admonishes Genevieve for wishing she were not different from other Plaiyn humans. She says, “[Genevieve helps] a grand number of souls rest in peace and traipse across the Meadows. [Her] powers over health and the elements dost assist many in overcoming misfortune or illness,” and concludes by saying that “It is lunacy to sayeth that one man can be a reason for [Genevieve] to regret all the good that [she performs] with [her] hybrid state.” In Chapter 44, "The Virgin's Gift", Cornelia reveals that Genevieve's eyes were green even though that was her first life and not a rebirth, likely because she was the direct progeny of Jinn and thus had greater influence of that heritage compared to other Majinn folk. Born on July 19, she is a child of Cancer.

• Sarah Sinclair - Plaiyn. Genevieve's maternal cousin who is Plaiyn, but aware of Majinn abilities, and skeptical of Genevieve's interest in Joseph. Sarah is Genevieve's Plaiyn mother's sister's daughter, and their interaction implies that they are very close. When Genevieve laments over how she can probably never be with Joseph and states that she wishes she were not "conceived from the seed of a Jinn" (her father is a Jinn), Sarah fires back sharply, telling her, "It is lunacy to sayeth that one man can be a reason for thee to regret all the good that thou dost perform with your hybrid state." This suggests that Sarah is impressed with and values Genevieve as a Majinnee. Her appearance seems to resemble Bella and Jolie, as does her role as the "cousin", although it is not confirmed if these similarities were intentional. Born on June 2, she is a child of Gemini.
• Joseph Meverel - Plaiyn. He is briefly seen in Shelley's dream in Chapter 26, "Endless Simmer", as the Plaiyn (nonmagical) man who caught Genevieve's interest in the medieval period. Not much is known about him except that he is "the son of Meverel" and appears to be carrying books, suggesting his trade as a bookkeeper. The fact that he is Plaiyn (implied to be hostile toward the Majinn folk) makes Genevieve's desire to be courted by Joseph "impossible". His physical appearance strongly resembles that of Denver and Matthew. Born on November 4, he is a child of Scorpio.
• Dr. Cooper - Dr. Cooper is the main surgeon that conducts Shelley's surgery and transplant preparation. He was also her mother's doctor and reveals to Shelley her inheritable risk for cancer. He is a compassionate and capable physician, giving her ample opportunities to make informed decisions and joking lightly about catching Shelley and Matthew in a compromising situation. He is seen in Chapter 20, "Safe and Sound", Chapter 21, "Hold Me", and Chapter 24, "Family Reunion". He was invited to the New Year's Eve party organized by the Ruscuitis as a token of appreciation for his efforts.
• Dr. Hobbs - One of the emergency doctors that handles Miriam's illness, Dr. Hobbs shows care and a capable hand in Miriam's care. She is African-American. She was invited to the New Year's Eve party organized by the Ruscuitis as a token of appreciation for her efforts.
• Dr. Song - One of the emergency doctors that handles Miriam's illness, Dr. Song seemed more likely to provide bad news regarding Miriam's condition. His name suggests Asian heritage. He was invited to the New Year's Eve party organized by the Ruscuitis as a token of appreciation for his efforts.
• Nurse - Unnamed and only referred to as "Nurse", she is depicted as bubbly and compassionate, jumping to conclusions regarding Miriam's parentage, and also involved in Shelley's post-surgical care.
• Lafayette Vex - Majinn. Mentioned in Chapter 43, "Legends and Lessons", as the redesigner of the original 12 astrological zodiac sign model (first described by Astrid the Sage) into its modern form.
• Dr. Susan Cresswell - Plaiyn. Dr. Cresswell is Shelley's boss and primary mentor at Stanford, where she leads top notch cancer research in a research laboratory. Her first appearance is in Chapter 7, "A Touch of Frost". Shelley first works under her while partaking in the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program, which lasts eight weeks. At first, Dr. Cresswell was high-strung and critical of Shelley, but after Shelley's hard work and devotion to the laboratory, Dr. Cresswell was enthusiastic to offer Shelley an appointment in her laboratory as a full-time Research Assistant. In Chapter 36, "Happy Drug", we learn that she is extremely impressed with Shelley's work, and that she wants her to partake in the epigenetics consortium at Oxford to bring back new skills that she can offer in her laboratory when she returns to Stanford. Surprising us by stepping out of her unemotional, professional front, Dr. Cresswell offers Shelley advice regarding balancing romantic life with career aspirations, revealing that she endured a divorce before finding that joy and balance in her current relationship. Born on February 17, she is a child of Aquarius.
• Dr. Yon-Hee (Emma) "Unni" Kim - Plaiyn. Intelligent, hardworking and Shelley's mentor in Dr. Cresswell's lab, Dr. Kim is like an older sister to her since they spend so much time together in the lab. Her English is not perfect, but Dr. Kim is extremely brilliant and devoted to her work as a post-doctoral scholar, and introduces Shelley to her Korean culture. She appears in Chapter 7, "A Touch of Frost", and encourages Shelley to live her life outside of the lab more, to move on from her confusing childhood crush, and date other guys. Born on March 15, she is a child of Pisces.
• Dr. John Rosewood - Plaiyn. He is an attractive post-doctoral scholar in Dr. Cresswell's laboratory and a love interest for Dr. Kim. He remarks that Shelley is far ahead of her standing if one only considers her age, and seems to admire Dr. Kim. Shelley encourages Dr. Kim to date Dr. Rosewood and might have a role in setting them up.
• Dr. Gregory Major - Plaiyn. A renowned scientist and expert in epigenetics, Dr. Major is the organizer and mentor of the epigenetics consortium at Oxford. He is also a good friend to Dr. Cresswell, who is Shelley's boss at Stanford, and tells Shelley that he wants to see her succeed in the program and has faith in her despite her very young age.
• Mary Galvan - Majinnee. An arrangement managed by Uncle Georgio, Mary is the Majinnee roommate and leaser to Shelley while she is in England. Random, sassy, warm, and protective, Mary is a wild but caring force in Shelley's life away from home. She counsels Shelley in a way that makes her laugh, and teases her by calling her "Shelley Berry", causing Shelley to call her "Mary Canary". Mary has an edgy sense of style, which bleeds onto Shelley when Mary forces her to go out with her to a club in Chapter 44, "The Virgin's Gift". Mary is of Latina descent and is passionate about her activism against human trafficking. She is first mentioned in Chapter 41, "A Thousand Miles", but makes appearances in Chapters 42 ("A Gift of Time"), 44 (The Virgin's Gift), and 45 ("Beauty in Blood"). Born on April 10, she is a child of Aries.
• Ryan Blake - Someone Mary happened to come across at the club she dragged Shelley to. Implied to have a "blossoming" relationship with her.
• Jade Merical - Plaiyn. Jade is one of Mary's best friends and becomes a good friend to Shelley during the her time in England. From her brief appearance in Chapter 42, "A Gift of Time", we learn that Jade rises early in the morning (since she teases Mary about being a night owl) and believes breakfast to be the most important meal of the day. She sympathizes with Shelley regarding Matthew's departure, stating that her fiance (with whom she is said to have a "perfect relationship") is in the military and so temporary goodbyes are common but nevertheless hard. Jade is also very religious, leading a youth group and encouraging Shelley (a devout Catholic) to bring Mary to church so that she can see her more often. Born on September 17, she is a child of Virgo.
• Crooked Lou - Majinnee. A "shaman" (witch doctor) who dabbles in dark magic and extracted the bone marrow for the potion Shelley must make. Her name comes from her crooked eyes, and Shelley describes feeling apprehensive about being under her care because of her eccentric appearance and magic-battered body.
• Skyler - Plaiyn. Her first appearance is in Chapter 52, "The Grave of Our Love", in a flashback to the year Shelley is reminiscing about. Skyler was the founder of the poetry meeting chapter at Stanford, and one of the friends that Shelley acquires to discuss her heartbreak with. Skyler shows great compassion and genuine care for Shelley, who describes her as though they were "kindred spirits". Skyler has had her heart get broken before, but she seems to have overcome that and helps Shelley through her anguish. She was born in Romania, grew up in D.C., but is completing dental school at Stanford. Born on June 30, she is a child of Cancer.
• Valentina - Plaiyn. Matthew's only cousin, who lives in Milan, Italy and was purported to commit suicide despite some force appearing to attack her in Chapter 46, "Mistletoe and Other Drugs"...Bears a small resemblance to Maureen.
• Igor Bluchwist - In Chapter 43, "Legends and Lessons", Dr. Major reveals to Shelley that he was murdered mere weeks before the epigenetics consortium was set to begin at Oxford, which was why they were scrambling for a last minute candidate and allowed Shelley to partake in the consortium at the last minute.
• Vera Gupta - Plaiyn. Appeared in "Look Away". A sun-kissed and exotic beauty that Shelley terms "a veritable Jasmine". As Matthew's clingy and airheaded date in the Couples Dancing Event, she becomes upset when she feels that he only takes her out to go to this event as part of the coach's disciplinary order for Matthew.
• Anna Feinberg - Plaiyn. Long, blonde hair with blue eyes. Appeared in Chapter 7, "A Touch of Frost", and Chapter 8, "Look Away". A warm and bubbly character, she offered Shelley a sublease arrangement for her apartment because she was planning to study abroad.
• Charles Homes - Plaiyn. Mark's father, who is the owner and heir of the enormous Holmes Jewelers enterprise. Seems to be of Scottish or Irish descent due to his accent.
• Ophelia Holmes - Majinnee. Mark's mother, who is deceased, when she was a child she lost her mother due car accident and that was presumably the reason she fell into depression and was later admitted into the rehab center where she met her future husband Charles Holmes. In Chapter 27, "Sweet Yellow Daffodils", Mark reveals that Ophelia "overdosed on pills, but [it was] never found out if it was accidental or intentional... she was on antidepressants at the time, though." Loved to take Mark ice skating when he was younger.
• Ada Holmes - Plaiyn. Mark's paternal grandmother. She is mentioned in Chapter 27, when Mark states how he "never had a mother figure in [his] life after [his] Mom passed away. [He had his] Grandma, but she's not exactly the motherly type." She makes her first appearance in Chapter 61, "Ticking Timebomb" when she supposed to be in Germany but came back home due presumably her flight being canceled or for other reasons, it's later revealed that she knew that her daughter-in-law was an Majinnee and had a special shield formed as umbrella to protect her from spells from dead now Ophelia as a gift in case of emergency that was caused by magic, it's also revealed that she's suffering from psychosis.
• Jisha Fausty - Plaiyn. She will make her first appearance in Season 5. Born on October 20, she is a child of Libra.
• Coach Swinney - Plaiyn. Coach Swinney scouted Matthew in his junior year of high school, intending to watch someone else play but instead immediately setting his sights on Matthew. He made Matthew the Quarterback of the Stanford Cardinals and, as Matthew said in Chapter 37, "Cocoon", the Coach was "someone who pushed you to do your best". However, he also exercised significant control over his players' personal lives, resulting in disturbance in the team and encouraging Matthew to adopt a "fake player" personality. Coach Swinney was against long-term relationships, which he felt "would 'suck' commitment that should be given to the team." He even removed someone from the team for getting engaged, and when he was confronted with a lawsuit on the basis of discrimination, the case was dismissed when the Coach uncovered this student's involvement with a drug scandal. Matthew stated that "the guy is a great coach, but he's honestly kind of scary with how well he keeps tabs on his players." When Matthew confronts Shelley's former foster parents, he discovers that Coach Swinney scouted children for the exploitation ring he and Shelley's former foster parents organized, which Matthew assured would land him in prison.
• Tess Chandler - Plaiyn. Shelley's foster mother, who she and Stephen stayed with after her parent's death and before her Uncle Georgio rescued her. Shelley considered her to be the root of the disturbance in her foster home, since she was always finding reasons to get Shelley in trouble and drove her husband to alcohol while encouraging his verbal (and sometimes physical) outbursts. When she reappears later in the story, Matthew discovers that she, her husband, and Coach Swinney ran a child exploitation ring, which lands them in prison.
• Richard Chandler - Plaiyn. Shelley's foster father, who she and Stephen stayed with after her parent's death and before her Uncle Georgio rescued her. He had issues with alcohol that were worsened by "Tess being a bitch" to him, and lashed out at Shelley, who tried her best to protect Stephen. When he reappears later in the story, Matthew discovers that he, his wife, and Coach Swinney ran a child exploitation ring, which lands them in prison.
• Gertrude - Plaiyn soul (different rules apply to these entities since they are inherently paranormal). Gertrude was an evil spirit who attempted to harm Shelley during her visit in the Meadows, in Chapter 16, "The Midnight Queen". Kat reveals to Shelley that Gertrude was going to teach Kat how to haunt Earth and kill its inhabitants even as a spirit, since she's done it before and murdered in the past. Shelley explains to Kat that this is why Gertrude can't move on to the underworld, because her soul is not whole and she is full of guilt, fear and anger... and assures Kat that Gertrude is a poor example to follow if she wants to move on to the underworld. She makes an alarming appearance (which her physical appearance has changed significantly since we last saw her in the meadows when she was trying to take Shelley's power) in Season 5 at the graves of Shelley's parents.
• Katherine "Kat" Crabtree - Plaiyn soul (different rules apply to these entities since they are inherently paranormal). Shelley first encountered Kat in Chapter 16, "The Midnight Queen" and was her companion in the Meadows in Chapter 17, "Haunted". Kat was 14 years old when she committed suicide, and she has said that "it took a long time, longer than I expected, to get over" the fact that she was now dead. Her sister's boyfriend exploited her and "did all sorts of horrible things" to her, making her resent herself and leading her to commit suicide. She has said her mother misses her but continues to abuse alcohol and drugs. Originally planning on haunting Earth and wreaking havoc as a means to get revenge on her oppressors, Shelley convinces her to forgive instead as a way to free herself from the trauma and the hurt. Kat leads Shelley to the Gate to the underworld, eventually being pulled into it with Shelley, Miriam and Shelley's Papa. It is assumed that her soul crossed over when she crossed over to the underworld.
• Tila Flores - Plaiyn. Tila is a hopeless romantic and one of Shelley's colleagues and best friends while she is in England. Originally a physician (doctor) and researcher in Honduras, she feels self-conscious in the stature of her colleagues at Oxford, but works very hard in the consortium and is said to be the top of her class. She gifts Shelley and Matthew a ship name, "Empress", a contraction of Emmy (Shelley's nickname for Matthew) and Princess (Matthew's nickname for Shelley). She bears a sad love story with Santiago, who she met in medical school in Honduras, and whose story reminds Shelley of her difficult relationship with Matthew when she first came back to California. Born on February 14, she is a child of Aquarius.
• Jocelyn "Jazzy" Chen - Plaiyn. Jazzy is one of Shelley's friends during the her time in England. She is in the fifth year of an MD PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania and is partaking in the Oxford epigenetics consortium Shelley attends in Season 4. She wants to be a pediatrician. She went to high school in Pittsburgh, where she met Jenna, and they became college roommates at an unnamed university, before coming back to Philadelphia.
• Jenna Cohen - Plaiyn. Jenna is another of Shelley's friends during the her time in England. She is an NIH-sponsored post-doctoral scholar in a genetics laboratory at Drexel in Philadelphia and is partaking in the Oxford epigenetics consortium Shelley attends in Season 4. She went to high school in Pittsburgh, where she met Jazzy, and they became college roommates at an unnamed university, before coming back to Philadelphia.
• Adonis Jonas - Plaiyn. A comic relief character who is considered to be obnoxious, self-centered, and vulgar. His first appearance is in Chapter 4, "Spinning Heartstrings", and he makes a subsequent appearance in one of Shelley's dreams (Chapter 29, "Sparks"). His next appearance is in Chapter 35, "Happy Drug", in which Matthew endows him with a special curse. Strangely, his unpleasant attitude does not seem to affect his luck with women, and he is constantly surrounded by a group of girls.
• Tati Love - Plaiyn. A sporty Adonis groupie.
• Lisa Edwards - Plaiyn. A sweet Adonis groupie.
• Diana Derpmaster - Plaiyn. A chaotic Adonis groupie.
• Meila Summers - Plaiyn. A glamorous Adonis groupie.

Gallery

Shelley running from Matthew.

Miriam's reaction after seeing Shelley.

Shelley teasing Matthew.

Miriam talking about Maureen.

Teaser of "Hoes Before Bros" - Genevieve's crossover episode with Jade Iredale's story "The Old Maid Adventures".

Another teaser of "Hoes Before Bros".

Dripping Mascara's characters as signs.