Chantinelle

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Chantinelle, or Ellie, is a fictional character from the comic book series Hellblazer. She is a disgraced succubus befriended by the notorious occultist John Constantine.

[edit] Fictional character biography

In Hellblazer #59, the succubus Chantinelle is approached by the First of the Fallen, who plans to use her to get to John Constantine, as they are old allies. She jumps across worlds to Earth, a task which severely hurts her; as she says 'I might never be well again'.

Hellblazer #60 is mainly a flashback, revealing what had brought the two together in the first place. In an ill-conceived attempt to advance her standing in the legions of Hell, Chantinelle, dancing on the border between heaven and hell, seduces one of the Heavenly Host, an angel named Tali. Her only mistake was to fall in love with him. They conceive a child together, and were forced to go into hiding. They approach Constantine, appearing on his doorstep, in Hellblazer #60, as the only neutral party who might be willing to help them.

Constantine takes them to an empty house that had been cleared of squatters. He makes a brief visit to the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, chatting with a demonically-possessed patient to see if Hell knows of the pair. They do not and Constantine returns to the house, thinking he is in the clear. He is not. Constantine neglects to consider Heaven's interest in the matter. He does ponder the possibility of utilizing the two later, a spy in heaven and a spy in hell. When Ellie's baby is born, a contingent of angels appear. They incinerate Tali in a burst of energy. Helpess, John can do nothing but listen as they take the child. It is a slow process which involves lots of blood and many unearthly, magical sounds that deeply distress John.

Back in the present, Constantine casts a spell upon Ellie, a mark upon her soul, which makes her permanently invisible to Hellish detection. In return, he demands her help in bringing about the Fall of the archangel Gabriel.

Hellblazer #61 reveals that the First of the Fallen is still pursuing the succubus with the aid of her former mistress, Triskele, a skeletonized snake with a woman's head. The pair travel to Earth to look for her. They confront Constantine, still bloody from the soul procedure and both realize that the succubus is invisible to them now. Out of spite, the First tears Triskele apart.

Chantinelle is later seen in the park, having a difficult time becoming resigned to the fact she will never see her beloved hell again. The sigil would destroy her if she entered the infernal realms.

An innocent compliment from a child greatly cheers her mood; moments before John steps in to discuss how to deal with the First. She agrees with his off-panel stated plan.