James "Jem" Carstairs

Meet Jem Carstairs. He's not your ordinary Shadowhunter. He is half-Chinese, half-British. Brought up in the Shanghai Institute in Shanghai, China, he is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and in English. He is also a musician- he plays the violin. Born in 1861, he is 17. But despite his young age, he uses a jade-headed dragon cane to support himself as he is weak.

At the age of 12, he was orphaned after his parents were killed by the demon Yan Luo and he himself was tortured by being injected by the demon poison yin fen. When he was rescued, he was already addicted with the drug. As a result, he could not live without the drug- but it also kills him, making his life shorter. If he could not take the drug, his natural Shadowhunter powers were weakened. It also caused his hair and eyes to turn silver.

He has a parabatai- Will Herondale. They first met at the London Institute when they were twelve, after Jem came from Shanghai. Will tried to push away Jem as he does not want anyone close to him. But to everyone's surprise, Jem easily made friends with him. Will and Jem loved each other like real brothers and they swore to protect each other- even in death.

In the year 1878, the American half-Shadowhunter, half-Eidolon Demon Tessa Gray came to the Institute. Jem instantly fell in love with Tessa though at first no one,even Tessa herself, knew what she really was. They became close friends, up to the extent that they became each other's confidantes.

One day, Jem proposed to Tessa. Tessa, on the other hand, was in total shock. At first she did not believe, but she saw the intention and purity of Jem's love for her. Though she loves Jem, she also loves Will. In the end, she accepted Jem's proposal, much to Jem's delight and happiness. But this also caused Will's heart to break and Tessa to be even more confused with her feelings.

One day, Tessa was kidnapped and Jem turned for the worse. It was found out that he was taking more of his drug so that he will be stronger around Tessa. There was also no more supply of his drug for someone called "the Magister" bought all the drug. Everyone in the Institute was in despair- they all wanted Jem to live. They did everything in their power to save Jem.

In his weak and dying state, he gave Will his blessing- to go after Tessa in his stead and bring her back. After Will left, Jem then made one of the biggest decisions in his life.

He became a Silent Brother.
He made this decision at the last minute of his life because though he is not afraid of death, he cannot bear to part with Will and Tessa. But his body is arrested in it's state before his transition. Slowly, the features he was born with- black hair (though it was streaked with silver) and dark eyes- came back to him. He became Brother Zachariah.

After Tessa was brought back, they broke off their engagement since Silent Brothers cannot marry though it caused both of their hearts to break. But Jem made a promise. Since both of them are immortal, Tessa because of her status as half-Shadowhunter, half-Eidolon Demon and Jem because he became a Silent Brother, they agreed to meet at Blackfriars Bridge in London (where they first opened up) once every year for one hour.

A year after Jem's departure, Will and Tessa got married. A few years later, they had a son. As it is a requirement to have a protection ritual performed on every Shadowhunter child by a Silent Brother, Will insisted that no other Silent Brother except Jem should perform the ritual. When Jem found out that the baby's name was James, he looked away and wept.

When Will died in 1937, Jem played his violin for the last time for his blood brother. In the years thereafter, he and Tessa continued to meet though it was temporarily stopped when the Blitz landed in London during World War II. After that, their meeting continued in that way until 2007. In 2008 however....

Jem was reversed to his real self- raven black hair, dark eyes, strong muscles and strong frame. He was finally released from the Brotherhood because the cure for his sickness was finally found after 136 years. But then, he also went back to being a mortal. There was also a single silver streak on his hair like a cruel reminder of his painful childhood and teenage years.

They talked about their new lives for a while. Suddenly, Jem noticed that Tessa still wore the pearl bracelet Will gave her during their thirtieth wedding anniversary. Jem walked away, thinking Tessa does not love him anymore. He walked away, only to be chased by Tessa.

Tessa invited Jem to see the world with her. Jem, after many long years of misery, longing for freedom and love for Tessa, agreed. They kissed at Blackfriars Bridge, the place where they fell in love 130 years ago. They reunited, their engagement was again opened.

They are finally married. As of present time, they are together, travelling the world.

Popular Jem Quotes
"Dreams can be dangerous things." (Clockwork Angel)
"It is not my sacrifice I offer. It is yours I ask of you." (Clockwork Prince)
"I can offer you my life but it is a short life. I can offer you my heart though I have no idea how many beats it shall sustain." (Clockwork Prince)
"I shall see you in Blackfriars Bridge, Tessa." (Clockwork Princess)
"There are memories that time does not erase... Forever dies not make loss forgettable, only bearable." (City of Lost Souls)

OFFICIAL BIO

• Name: James Carstairs/ Ke Jian Ming
• Born: 1861
• Age (as of 1878-2008): 17
• Alias: Brother Zachariah
• Nickname: Jem/ Jemmy

AFFILIATION

• Species: Shadowhunter
• Occupation: Former Silent Brother
• Residence: London Institute/ Silent City (Both formerly)
• Allegiance: Enclave

RELATIONSHIPS

• Parabatai: Will Herondale
• Father: Jonah Carstairs (+)
• Mother: Ke Wen Yu (+)
• Uncle: Elias Carstairs
• Fianceè: Tessa Gray

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

• Gender: Male
• Features: Eurasian (exhibited by gentle eye curves)
• Hair color: Black (Silver while ill)
• Eye color: Black (Silver while ill)

Want to know more about Shadowhunters?

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