A Cup Of Desire (Cuphead x Reader)

Chapter XIX - Be Prepared

'... And so that's why I needed to close all windows and shut all doors. Now I'm just afraid that she's going to come after you guys as well.' Cuphead explained, finishing his story with an anxious sigh.

'I see...' Elder Kettle responded, thinking deeply whilst leaning over his knees, sitting on his dark-brown rocking chair.

'I can't believe that actually happened.' Mugman exclaimed, fear draining out of his voice like a running faucet. 'Do you think she's had these powers all along and that she was just playing us for fools?'

'That's pompous, of course that isn't true...' Cuphead paused for a moment to re-think everything over yet again. 'At least, I hope not...'

'Well I don't believe it to be truthful with you.' Elder Kettle spoke with confidence. 'She seemed much too sweet and innocent all this time to be that wicked and vile. If she had those powers all along, I think we would have noticed by now. Don't you think?' As he finished his sentence, he glanced away from the boys to look down at his feet, making a little "Hmm" sound along with it, before averting his attention back to Cuphead. 'Speaking of powers, did you happen to notice anything else that could be deemed odd or bizarre? Apart from being able to summon fire through her hands at her own command.'

'Let me think,' He paused, looking towards the ceiling while his mind rummaged through his memories, 'there was a brief moment when I was talking to her and she just froze, as if she was suddenly unable to move her own body. The entire time, her eyes seemed to stare right at me, looking through my eyes like she was watching her whole life on replay, so to speak. But she quickly snapped once I called her by her little nickname that I gave her. She got so tense and angry, but I just don't understand why.'

'Hmm, interesting...' He mumbled to himself, looking over his right shoulder to where a tall bookcase stood, holding at least 4 dozen or so books.

'What is it, Elder Kettle?' Mugman asked suspiciously, both the brothers watching as senior got up from his chair and walked over to the large bookcase, standing directly in front of it while looking intently at all the books.

'I think I may have read something like that somewhere before.' He informed, running his index finger along various shelves as his eyes followed, searching for a specific book that he had in mind. As he searched carefully, he stopped once he found what he had been looking for. 'Ah, here it is.' As he gently slid the book out from the shelf, he turned around to reveal he was holding a regular-sized, dark purple book with writing that read "Black Magic & Witchcraft" on the front cover in big bold letters. He sat back down on his chair and placed the book down in front of him on the coffee table as he began to rummage through various pages, trying to find something that might give them a clue as to what is going on with me. Cuphead and Mugman grew curious as they walked over to stand by Elder Kettle's side, watching intently as the pages continued flickering past with Elder Kettle's fingers rummaging through them.

'Black Magic? Witchcraft? Elder Kettle, are you sure about this?' Mugman pondered with uncertainty.

'Of course, I may be old but I'm most definitely not crazy.' He replied with a slight chuckle at the end. He stopped his hands for a small second, catching something off guard that sparked his interest. He did a little speed-reading through the page before lighting up a slight amount. 'Here. I think this may be it.' He exclaimed, pointing down on the page to show the boys that were looking down over him.

'...T-the Kiss of Sin?' Cuphead stammered, reading the title out loud. 'I don't understand. What does that mean?'

Elder Kettle cleared his throat a little as he looked over the words on the page. 'It says here that it is a spell that can only be conjured through the Devil. A spell that gives someone the power to change anyone with but a single kiss. The changes that occur to the victim are newfound powers of being able to hurl a flame of fire from their own hands and allowing one to read inside a person's mind if they look directly into their eyes.'