"Please, there is no need to repay me," The Devil said softly, his eyes locked on Mugman. "Just... Call me 'Father'."
There was a pause. Mugman peered up at the Devil, slowly putting his hand on top of the Devil's, "Yes... Father. Thank you for everything."
It took every ounce of strength that Ginette had to keep herself from screaming. She knew instantly what Mugman was doing. He was doing this for her. For Elder Kettle.
It made her want to wail out in agony and cry. No child should have to do this. No child should have to sacrifice themselves just to keep their loved ones alive.
It wasn't right. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.
To keep herself quiet Ginette bit down on her tongue, hard. The pain kept her from doing anything stupid. All she wanted to do was scoop up Mugman and protect him from this monster.
She longed to run. To take the boys to safety. To live a normal life. But that wasn't an option.
This was their lot in life, and Ginette despised it.
At first, the anger in her heart toward their situation had been faint. But it had grown, and quickly at that. This anger was something that Ginette had never felt before.
She'd never been the type to become angry, in her mind, it was a waste of time. But now? Pure, unadulterated fury was taking over, permeating every aspect of her being.
Her eyes focused on the Devil. Her first friend. The only one in her miserable existence who'd given a damn about her. Until them. Part of her still loved the Devil as her closest friend. She owed everything she'd ever done to him. But, that didn't matter now.
All that mattered was those two little boys. Those small children were sacrificing themselves for her. She would protect them. She would give them a chance at a better life, no matter the cost.
"Chalice."
"Gin! I didn't expect to get a message from you."
"I've thought about your offer, and- I'll do it. I'll be your vessel."
- Chapter Nineteen: A Day Off -
Today it was Mugman's turn on dinner duty. One of his least favorite chores.
Chewing on his lip nervously, the boy descended into the dungeons, holding a large tray. The imps all knew him and his brother by now and waved to the boy as he passed.
"Heya, Mugsy! You're on dinner duty today, huh?" called out one of the smaller imps nicknamed Pipsqueak.
Mugman let out a fearful sigh. "Yep..."
"Ooo! Don't get yourself bitten, those beasts of yours act like they have rabies or somethin' catchin'!"
"I-I won't," Mugman said, trying to smile. "Boss- uh, Father, will be there. I'm sure they'll be on their best behavior for him."
Father. A word that Mugman had once associated with a loving protector, a teacher, someone who truly had his back.
But now? Father meant something very different. It still made his stomach churn, but how long would that last?
How long until Mugman was accustomed to calling the Devil, Father?
"I'm here!" Mugman announced as he entered the Colosseum.
Cuphead was already there, hopping through an obstacle course filled with dangerous lava, difficult-to-reach platforms, and plenty of deadly traps scattered throughout.
The Devil was leaning back against the wall, watching closely as puffed his cigar. Beside him stood Ginette. She was leaning on a cane, her arms and legs wrapped in bandages.
"Her injuries are a reminder of the lesson she learned." The Devil had said when Cuphead had asked why the Devil had refused to heal Ginette. "I want her to never forget what I have taught her."
And so, Ginette had to use a cane to walk while she healed. But even with the cane, she struggled, and most of the time she would have to lean on someone for support while walking. The boys hated seeing her like that, but there was nothing they could do.
"Ah, Mugman!" The Devil exclaimed happily, snapping the boy out of his thoughts. "Excellent work, my son. Go on now, serve our guests their dinner, they aren't going to feed themselves, you know."
"Yes, Father," Mugman said, grimacing slightly.
He hated being on dinner duty. If Cuphead got bit, it didn't phase him -after all, his brother had super strength. But if Mugman got bitten, it hurt .
Steeling himself, Mugman shuffled over to the other side of the Colosseum, putting down the metal tray, and using all his might to pull a giant lever. With a resounding clunk, the lever slowly slid into place. Two cages began to lower, suspended in the air by large chains.
The inhabitants, a rabid Baroness von Bon Bon and Djimmi, began to howl in anticipation, salivating at the mouth as they descended.
Mugman tried to smile at his friends -what was left of them, at least. They looked so empty, nothing like the people he once knew. Taking a deep breath, Mugman knelt down as he uncovered the tray, revealing two large slabs of raw meat.
The moment Djimmi and Bon Bon saw the meat, they frantically stretched their hands through the bars, swiping and clawing at Mugman hungrily.
"It's all they'll eat now." The Devil had told Cuphead and Mugman when he'd first told them that they'd be serving Djimmi and Bon Bon dinner every night. "That little 'gift' of mine has made them positively rabid, wanting nothing but raw meat." The Devil chuckled menacingly.
Mugman wished he was brave enough to confront the Devil and demand that he stop torturing poor Djimmi and Bon Bon in that way, but it wasn't like that would make any difference...
Hand trembling, Mugman picked up the first slab of meat, tossing it into Djimmi's outstretched hand. The Baroness tried to snatch it away, but missed barely, growling.
"Easy..." Mugman said shakily, picking up the other piece. He tossed it to her. "Here you go, Miss Bon Bon."
The Baroness seized it, ripping it apart hungrily. Bits of blood from the raw meat sprayed out, landing on Mugman's cheek. Scooting back, Mugman watching fearfully. No matter how much they were fed, every time they ate, it was like they hadn't eaten in weeks. It terrified Mugman.
"Do not fear them." The Devil said, seemingly sensing the boy's fear as he approached from behind, placing his hand on Mugman's shoulder.
"You are above them. They cannot hurt you. Even if I were to release them from their cages, you can defend yourself, because you are better ."
Mugman shifted uncomfortably, trying not to show his distaste toward the Devil's statement. "It's not that, Father. It's-" He paused, looking up at the Devil. "They used to be my friends, but now... They've changed. They're like wild animals who're starvin'... Dyin'."
"And why is that a problem?" The Devil asked casually. "After all, they did cheat me out of their souls. A deal is a deal, yes? They should be punished for their wrongdoings."
"I-I guess, but… They're my friends. Seein' them suffer like this-"
"You don't like it." The Devil finished.
Mugman nodded, bracing himself. Depending on the Devil's mood, this could either go well or things would turn sour quickly.
But, to the boy's surprise, the Devil let out a playfully exasperated sigh and turned to Ginette, "Can you save them?"
Ginette tensed up, just as surprised as Mugman, "I- I can certainly try, sir. I can't guarantee that it'll work, but there's a chance I can heal them and turn them back to normal. But, you wouldn't be able to use them for the boys' training."
"That won't be a problem," The Devil said.
Turning back to Mugman, he knelt down beside the boy, flashing him a warm smile, "It seems you've caught me in a good mood, son. I'm sure your mother will have them healthy and back to normal in no time. She is the one who originally created the poisons for them, after all."
Ginette winced at that comment. It was a fact she despised being reminded of.
"In the meantime," The Devil continued, getting back up, a maniacal grin forming on his face, "we'll need to dig up some new sparring partners for you two boys."
The words sent shivers down Mugman's spine. Who exactly had he just condemned to a life of torture and imprisonment?
"Lucky for you, I have just the idea of who to 'acquire' next!"
Sunrise. Ms. Chalice let out a long sigh, leaning against Castellum Cylix's tower walls as she watched streaks of yellow and orange pierce the sky. Clutched in her hand was a small paper bag filled with inconspicuous cookies. Most wouldn't bat an eye, but these were no ordinary pastries.
"Let me present to you my finest creation yet!" Declared Chef Saltbaker, presenting Chalice with a tray of cookies.
Chalice raised her eyebrow. "Uh- Saltbaker, these are just plain ol' chocolate chip cookies. What's so special about that?"
The chef grinned. "Take a bite and you'll see! I think after trying these cookies, you'll feel rather... Lively."
An astral cookie. A temporary ticket for Chalice to be alive again -through the body of another. Thanks to Ginette agreeing to be her vessel, Chalice would be able to live once again. At least for a little while.
There was a bittersweet happiness that clawed at Chalice's mind whenever she thought of anyone besides Cuphead and Mugman being her vessels.
Anything that reminded her of Cuphead and Mugman filled her with this sense of emptiness. A deep sadness that left her feeling numb. She missed them so much, the very thought of them was too much for her mind to handle.
For the past few months, Chalice had been running on pure adrenaline, not letting her feelings catch up to her. But now? Perhaps it was because she'd returned to her childhood home. Or maybe she was finally processing just what had become of her dear friends.
It crept up on her like a thief in the night. A sadness that dragged her deeper and deeper, threatening to swallow her whole. So many lives hung in a delicate balance, how could she do this all on her own? No matter what she did, the Devil was always one step ahead. Was she doomed to fail? Would it be better if she gave up now?
Some days she wishes she could. Loneliness ate at her heart, especially when she thought of the brothers. She longed to see them again, to give them the biggest hug ever.
She'd almost reunited with them once while she was in the casino. It was a week or so after Mugman's incident in the city. Chalice had gone to speak with Elder Kettle. It was a dangerous endeavor, but one she knew how to handle.
The brothers had been fast asleep, sprawled out across the staff common room's couches. Her eyes widened and she had immediately rushed over to their side.
"Should I wake them for you?" Elder Kettle said. "I'm sure they'd love to see you, Chalice."
Chalice didn't respond for a moment. Everything in her wanted to say yes, but... Was it wise?
If the Devil ever discovered that the boys had been in contact with Chalice behind his back -She didn't want to imagine that. Elder Kettle (and now Ginette as well) knew the risks of being associated with her. Ones that could prove deadly if things went sour.
She couldn't -in good conscience- involve the brothers. The torture and torment they would undergo if she was caught would be unbearable... The type of pain and misery that Chalice was well aware of.
Lowering her gaze, Chalice shook her head. "Them knowing is too dangerous... I- I'd better get goin', huh? It's not good for me to stick around too long."
Elder Kettle nodded, putting his hand on your shoulder. "You're doing a good thing, Chalice. When this is all over, the boys will appreciate everything you've done for them."
Chalice forced a smile. "Yeah."
If only she believed that.
Smash!
Chalice snapped back to reality. Looking down, she saw her spectral hand lodged into the stone wall. She'd punched it so hard that a piece of the wall had broken off, smashing into the ground.
Quickly turning away from the edge, Chalice hurried back inside. She had to get herself under control. Aggressively wiping tears away from the corners of her eyes, she hurried down the castle tower's steps to the grounds. It was best for her to not linger, the longer she sat still, the more she would find herself drowning in feelings of inadequacy.
As Chalice walked out onto the castle grounds, she was suddenly met with the sight of Miss Cyclops, who was quite insistently beckoning her over to something.
Chalice immediately tensed up. Was someone close by? Had the Devil discovered her hiding spot?
She hurried to Miss Cyclops's side. "What's wrong?" She whispered. "Have we been discovered?"
The cyclops shook her head, pointing into the woods. Off in the distance, Chalice could ever so slightly hear the sound of fighting accompanied by the bloodthirsty calls of the Devil's imps.
Someone was in trouble, and by the sound of it, they weren't doing too well against the imps.
"Wait here," Chalice ordered in a hushed whisper, summoning her golden spear with a flick of her hand. "I'll go and check it out."
The giant nodded, the look in her eyes seeming to say: "Good luck!"
Chalice soared through the forest, intently focused on following the warlike cries of the imps. Over the centuries after her passing, she'd begun to understand what the different sounds meant. The ones she was hearing now? It sounded to her like they were winning.
Clutching her spear tightly, Chalice dove through a wall of bramble, peeking her head out to see a group of ten or so imps attacking a large flower. Said flower was screaming curses and swinging thorny tendrils at his assailants, but the imps were just too fast. The group was surrounding the flower, jabbing at him from different directions and trying to pull up his roots.
Gritting her teeth, Chalice scanned her surroundings. She needed there to be no survivors. The last thing she needed was the Devil gaining more intel on her.
Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind. A smile formed at the corners of her mouth. As much as combat worried her, Chalice couldn't deny that she'd missed it.
In a flash, Chalice lunged from behind, thrusting her spear forward. She skewered three imps like they were marshmallows one would roast. The others screamed, completely caught off-guard by their new opponent.
The flower was terrified of the new arrival as well, scrambling backward, "Holy shit!" He yelled, gawking at her.
"It's okay!" Chalice called out in reply as she took the head off another imp. "I'm here to help!"
"You are?" The flower sputtered. "Shit- Was I planted over your grave or somethin'?"
"Nah." Chalice giggled, tackling an imp and snapping its neck. "I'll explain later, yeah? For now, let's send these fellas back to Hell where they belong!"
"I like that plan!" The flower grinned, leaping into action alongside his new ghostly ally.
"Miss Cyclops!" Chalice's voice rang out through the ruins of Castellum Cylix as she led her new ally into the fort.
Cagney, who was standing next to Chalice, tensed up. "Uhh, when you say 'Cyclops', do you mean like, the Cyclops of Rugged Ridge?"
"I do."
The color drained from Cagney's petals. "What?"
"I befriended her!" Chalice replied with a charming smile. "She ain't so bad once you get to know her!"
Cagney gulped. "I sure hope so."
The giant's footsteps grew closer, and then, the cyclops' enormous head peered out through the treetops. Cagney looked like he was going to pass out.
"We've got ourselves a new friend who'll be staying here!" Chalice said. "Seems like the Devil's searchin' for his runaway debtors, so you and I are gonna have a lotta company pretty soon."
Turning to Cagney, Chalice continued, "Miss Cyclops saved you, y'know. If she hadn't told me 'bout hearin' your scuffle in the woods, I would never have found you."
Cagney, although he was still terrified, gave Miss Cyclops a weak smile. "I- uh- Thank you, Miss, uh, Cyclops. I don't know if I'd still be livin' if it weren't for you."
Miss Cyclops blushed, grinning ear to ear. She gave the flower a bashful curtsey, then hurried away.
"See? What did I tell ya? Miss Cyclops is a doll." Chalice quipped, playfully slapping Cagney across the back. "Now you go on in and get yourself comfortable. I'll be back tonight."
"You're leavin'? W-where are you goin'?" Cagney blustered, a little on edge at the thought of his new ally leaving him so quickly.
"Out," Chalice replied, summoning up her paper bag of pastries. "Gotta gather some intel, y'know? After all, the Devil ain't gonna kill himself."
Cagney nodded hesitantly, "I, uh, suppose not."
"Uh, Boss?"
Cuphead and Mugman glanced up from their lunch. From the tone of Henchman's voice, the boys could tell that he was about to give the Devil some bad news.
"Hmm?" The Devil said, twirling his pitchfork.
"It's, uh, somethin' happened on the mainland. Y'know that squadron you sent lookin' for them runaway debtors?"
"Yes? What's happened?" The Devil pressed, irritation seeping into his tone.
Henchman braced for impact as he said, "They, um, went missin'. We think somebody offed 'em."
"What? " The Devil hissed, smashing his fist down on the table.
"I- Uh- They- Nobody knows for sure what happened," Henchman added, panic overtaking his tone, "but no one can get ahold of 'em. It's like they've dropped off the face of the earth."
"Don't come to me with rumors, Henchman." The Devil snapped, grabbing a glass of water right out of Cuphead's hand and throwing it at the imp. "I want them found. And make it snappy or you will regret it. "
Henchman lurched back, barely avoiding the shards of glass that exploded out from the glass smashing into the wall. "Y-yes, Boss! I'll get our best demons on it."
"You'd better." Was the Devil's reply as the demon shot Henchman with a threatening glare.
As Henchman left, the Devil slumped dramatically back into his chair. Cuphead and Mugman watched him closely, clutching onto each other, fearing they would be the next targets of the Devil's wrath.
Silence permeated the room. The Devil snapped his fingers, summoning a lit cigar into his hand. He took a long drag, his eyes closed. "We're done for the day. Congrats, you boys have just gotten yourselves a day off." He exhaled with a puff of smoke.
The boys exchanged a look.
"Well? Aren't you going to thank me?" The Devil continued, opening an eye to look at the boys.
"O-oh! Yes, thank you, Father!" Mugman stammered, his hands trembling.
Cuphead simply nodded along. Calling the Devil 'father' was still too much for him, so he only said it when he absolutely had to.
"What would you like us to do instead?" Mugman continued, tightly holding Cuphead's arm beneath the table.
"Us?" The Devil's ears perked up.
"Y-yeah. Like a family." Mugman could feel Cuphead tensing up, but it was too late to backpedal now.
A faint smile played at the Devil's lips. "I'd like that… Yes. I'd like that very much." He suddenly stood up, "Come. Let us go see Elder Kettle. I'm sure you boys miss him terribly."
The Devil was smiling now as he spoke, but it wasn't the good kind of smile. It was a smile full of malice that made a chill go up Cuphead and Mugman's spines. Whatever the Devil was planning, it couldn't be good.
Ginette limped her way into the staff commons as the clocks struck 10 p.m, just as rush hour began in the casino. No staff would be in the commons for at least a few hours, the perfect time for a hush-hush meeting.
Elder Kettle glanced up as she made her way inside. His pity for her was evident. "Are you alright? Do you need me to get you anything?" He asked, walking to her side.
"No, no. I'm alright." Ginette said, wincing as she sat herself down in an armchair. "This is better than it was a few days ago, believe it or not."
"I believe it alright." Elder Kettle said sadly. "The way the Devil treats you is just… Downright cruel."
Ginette shrugged with a sigh. "It could be worse. The fact I got out of there with my life intact speaks volumes."
Elder Kettle didn't look thoroughly convinced, but he didn't have time to respond as Ginette suddenly closed her eyes, holding a hand to her head.
"It's Chalice." She said as her eyes and palms began to glow, magic flowing through her. "Yes. It's all clear in here. Both Elder Kettle and I are here and ready whenever you are."
"Is she coming?" Elder Kettle asked.
"Yes. It seems there was some imp activity down on the mainland, so her visit will be short, but she's coming." Ginette replied, the glow fading from her eyes.
Then, came a flash of light as a portal emerged from thin air, revealing a starry night sky -the astral plane- with a ghostly chalice peeping her head out.
"Good!" Said the Legendary Chalice, filled with her usual pep and charm as she stepped out of the portal, "It seems you both are still in one piece."
"Thankfully." Ginette chuckled dryly, watching as the rift between planes closed behind Chalice.
"I'm so glad you're safe, Ms. Chalice." Elder Kettle said, leaning in and giving Chalice a tight hug. "How are things back on the mainland? Is all still quiet?"
Chalice sighed. "It was... Up until a few hours ago. Then, somethin' changed. I found this fella who was gettin' jumped by a buncha the Devil's goons. I managed to get him out in one piece and he went on to tell me that the Devil's put out some bounties on his runaway debtors."
"Bounties?" Elder Kettle asked, concern filling his voice.
"Take a look for yourself," Chalice said, pulling out a piece of paper.
- WANTED -
A $10,000 Reward for Assisting in the Capture Of ANY Of The Persons Listed
- The Root Pack
- Gloopy le Grande
- Brothers Ribby and Croaks
- Hilda Berg
- Cagney Carnation
X Baroness von Bon Bon
X Djimmi the Great
- Beppi the Clown
- Wally Warbles
- Grim Matchstick
- Rumor Honey Bottoms
- Captain Brineybeard
- Cala Maria
- Dr. Kahl and His Robot
- Werner Werman
- Sally Stageplay
- The Phantom Express
Note: Anyone found harboring these criminals will be PERSECUTED to the full extent of the LAW, carried out by the DEVIL'S TASK FORCE
Elder Kettle was speechless. He read and reread the poster again and again. "...How? How could he do this?"
"He's pretty much gotten full control over the Inkwell Isles." Chalice replied bitterly. "And, who's gonna stop him? You can't arrest the Devil or anythin' like that. You either kiss up to the bastard or find yourself on one of these wanted posters."
"But why?" Elder Kettle pressed, shaking his head in dismay. "Why would he do this?"
"He's gathering up sparring partners for the boys," Ginette interjected, taking a look at the wanted poster. "Djimmi and Bon Bon are on death's doorstep and so he's out hunting for new training dummies."
Elder Kettle looked horrified, while Chalice didn't look surprised in the slightest.
"That makes a lotta sense now that you say it." Chalice said, shaking her head in dismay.
"And, this fellow you found," Elder Kettle said, still reeling, "who was he?"
"Oh, yes! He said he knew you and the boys. It was some flower fella-"
"Cagney!" Elder Kettle exclaimed. "Is he safe?"
"He's alright." Chalice said reassuringly. "He's hiding out with me for now. He insists he wants to try and leave the isles, but I don't think that'll be happenin' any time soon."
"Definitely not." Ginette agreed. "The Devil's been itching to get back at his runaway debtors for months. He won't rest till he has them all in cells and under his thumb."
"Help those he hunts…" Chalice murmured, glancing over at Elder Kettle. "Seems like that part of that Sight prophecy of yours is finally comin' true."
"I suppose so." Elder Kettle exhaled. "But, if that is the case, what does it mean? What on earth is the Sight trying to have you do?"
Chalice paused. She hadn't thought that far ahead. Why would the Sight mention that so specifically?
"Now I'm not so sure if this is a shot in the dark, but from how I see it. It seems like the Sight is guiding you to build an army." Ginette mused, an impressed expression forming on her face as she spoke. "I mean, what better fighters could you have? It's perfect, in a strange and twisted way. They're trapped in this terrible situation because of the Devil. What else can they do? Besides being hunted down and caught, of course."
"They've no choice but to fight." Chalice said, gasping as the pieces clicked in her mind. "Gosh… It sounds terrible when we say it like that but… What other option do any of us have?"
"Why do you think I'm doing what I'm doing?" Ginette said with a wry smile. "It's either this or giving up, and I'm not about to sit here and watch my children's minds rot under the Devil's influence."
"Speakin' of," Chalice held out a small paper bag to Ginette. "Here. These are for you."
Ginette took the bag, peering inside and raising her eyebrows, "Uh- Cookies? What's this for?"
"It's an astral cookie." Chalice explained. "When you take a bite, it allows me to take over your body and become alive again. For about an hour or so, that is."
Ginette let out a long exhale. "So, we're really doing this vessel thing, huh?"
"Only if you're alright with it," Chalice said, putting a hand on Ginette's shoulder. "If you need, say the word and we will never speak of this again."
"No, no. I'll do it." Ginette said, tightening her grasp on the paper bag. "It's just… A lot to take in."
"Those boys of yours said the same." Chalice giggled with a wistful smile.
Ginette perked up. "They did? They were your vessels as well?"
"At one point, before this mess-" Chalice said, about to go into a story, but she quickly stopped talking.
She froze, listening intently, then her eyes met Ginette's and Elder Kettle's.
"He's coming." She whispered, before suddenly disappearing.
Then, just as she did, the staff common room door swung open. Both Ginette and Elder Kettle whipped around, their hearts leaping up into their throats. There, standing in the doorway, was the Devil with Cuphead and Mugman at his side.
"Elder Kettle!" The Devil crooned, strolling into the room. "Shirking your responsibilities, are we?"
The elder turned, quickly shoving the wanted poster between the cushions of Ginette's armchair. He had not mentally prepared himself to see the Devil today.
Every time he saw the demon, Elder Kettle had to mentally prepare himself beforehand to keep himself from snapping. It was just so overwhelming to see the creature who had singlehandedly ruined his children's lives. Who'd tortured his boys and was trying with everything in his power to turn his children into monsters.
Now, here he was, trapped in this godforsaken common room. Forced to rely on a ghost girl and a mad scientist to save his children while he was supposed to do what? Just sit and wait? It boiled his blood, and now this unexpected visit was pushing him over the edge. Between the exhaustion from work, the fear growing in his heart, and his intense anger, he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to hold himself together.
"No!" Ginette cut in after the Devil's accusation. With a groan of pain, she dragged herself out of the armchair she was seated in and into the Devil's line of sight, standing in front of Elder Kettle. "He was looking after me, that's all, Boss."
"Ah, Ginette! How convenient for dear Elder Kettle, here. You're always just around the corner, aren't you? Why, won't you look at that, boys!" The Devil exclaimed in mock surprise, kneeling down next to Cuphead, putting his arm around the boy's shoulders. "It looks like your grandfather, and your sweet mother is here. What a wonderful family get-together! How delightful!"
Then, with a giggle of delight, he kissed Cuphead's forehead. "What do you think, my dear?"
The room went silent, reeling from the Devil's blatant display of affection as if a bomb had gone off.
Elder Kettle's grip on his cane tightened as he struggled not to glare at the Devil. He hated standing here, helpless as he watched the Devil manhandle his children as if they were mere dolls. He was done with the Devil's sickly sweet fatherly manner of acting toward the boys and wasn't sure how much more of it he could take.
Meanwhile, Cuphead's stomach was doing somersaults with all the rising tensions. The Devil's forehead kiss had almost made him throw up, and not the resulting silence was deafening. Neither of the boys had been able to work up the courage to tell Elder Kettle about the choice they'd made.
What they now called the Devil.
The boy glanced up at the Devil, who was grinning widely. Had he somehow known? Was this his plan all along? To flaunt his new status as their father in an attempt to break their Elder Kettle? The thought made Cuphead's heart quicken.
"Hah, yeah…" Cuphead said, laughing nervously as he tried to ease the growing tension, "It's mighty nice to have everyone back together again."
"Yep. Sure is." Mugman added, forcing himself to smile. "H-how are you doin', Elder Kettle?" He asked in an attempt to distract his grandfather from the Devil's suffocating presence.
"What do you want?" Elder Kettle demanded, his eyes locked with the Devil's, not even bothering to answer Mugman's question. "Congratulations, you've gotten under my skin. Are you happy? Now quit this fake lovey-dovey act and tell me what you want. And while you're at it, get your filthy hands off my grandson."
The Devil gasped mockingly, "Why, Elder Kettle! How uncouth. I give you a chance to see your beloved grandsons and you lash out against me, their father!"
Cuphead and Mugman's blood went cold, their eyes locked on Elder Kettle's face. Then, to their surprise, Elder Kettle laughed.
"Their father?" Elder Kettle chortled, giving the Devil a bitter smile. "Please. I thought you were the Devil. You cannot possibly be that delusional. Do you actually think you're their father? That they love you enough to even pretend you could be their father?"
Ginette looked like she was about to throw up, her gaze darting from the Devil, to the brothers, and then to Elder Kettle.
The Devil was unphased by the outburst, giving Elder Kettle an unreadable smile. "Oh, Elder Kettle, dear Elder Kettle." He tsked his tongue, "And I thought you knew your boys. I suppose not."
Elder Kettle's resolve wavered for a moment, looking at the brothers. "What does he mean?"
Cuphead opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Mugman grabbed his hand, gripping tightly.
"Well? Aren't you going to answer your grandfather, boys?" The Devil said, his voice dripping with anticipation.
"I…" Mugman said, trying to speak as much as he didn't want to, "We- Well, I-"
"Elder Kettle?" Cuphead interrupted, reassuringly squeezing Mugman's hand as if to say, "I'll do it."
"We, uh, have somethin' to tell you." Cuphead continued, taking a step forward. Elder Kettle stared, frozen in place as if he already knew what the boy was going to say.
"We- We like it here," Cuphead forced himself to say, his eyes filling with tears, "a-and the Devil? He's our father now. We- We love him. A lot. He's done so much for us and... We never wanna leave. We're his sons now."
Elder Kettle looked like he'd been stabbed. His mouth hung open, unable to speak. Mugman clutched Cuphead's hand tightly, trying not to cry. Ginette covered her mouth, trying to hide her bubbling-up emotions.
Nothing would ever be the same.
"You should be happy." The Devil said, breaking the tense silence. "Your boys finally have a family. You, their grandfather," he said, mockingly doing a curtsey to Elder Kettle, "a devoted mother," he continued as he gestured to Ginette, "and me. Their loving father."
Elder Kettle was beginning to tremble, his eyes filling up with tears, "What… What did you do to my boys? " He shouted, lunging forward, attempting to tackle the Devil.
The Devil looked more than willing to take Elder Kettle on, but Ginette intercepted, grabbing his arm even though her body screamed out in pain. "Elder Kettle, STOP!" She cried out, yanking him backward.
"NO! You let go of me!" Elder Kettle yelled, wrenching himself free, whipping around to glare at Ginette. "Did YOU help that monster do this?" He screamed, grabbing Ginette by the shirt collar. "What did he offer you? Did you want to be a mother so badly that you gave up your morals completely?"
Ginette tried to respond, but Elder Kettle didn't let her, violently throwing her to the ground. Ginette crashed to the ground, crying out in pain, her ankle twisted. "I should never have felt sorry for you! You act so nice, so caring, but you're really just as evil as him. Aren't you?"
Cuphead sprinted forward, throwing himself in between Elder Kettle and Ginette, and shoving his grandfather back, "ELDER KETTLE, STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE!" He screamed, protectively standing in front of Ginette. "DON'T YOU TOUCH MY MAMA!"
"Elder Kettle! Please, stop! You don't understand!" Mugman added, hurrying over to the kettle's side. "Please, let me explain-"
"EXPLAIN?" Elder Kettle roared. "What is there to explain? You- You're saying that the Devil, the one who kidnapped you, who destroyed EVERYTHING we held dear, is your father?" He grabbed Mugman forcefully by the shoulders. "What have they done to you?"
Mugman let out a weak cry, struggling against Elder Kettle's uncharacteristically strong grip. "Please, stop! You're hurtin' me!"
Tears were pouring down Elder Kettle's face. He gritted his teeth together, pulling Mugman tightly against his chest. "What did you do to them?" He said, much softer and desperately, turning to the Devil, his voice breaking. "What have you done to my boys?"
"Nothing." The Devil grinned. "This is all them. It was Mugman who called me father first, very willingly I might add. He thanked me for everything, called me his father, and said he loved me."
"No..." Elder Kettle said, chuckling in a feeble attempt to seem more confident than he actually was. "You're lying." He glanced down at Mugman, who he was still holding tightly against his chest. "He's lying, isn't he? Tell me he's lying."
Mugman stared up at him with big, mournful eyes. He longed to connect to Elder Kettle's mind, to explain everything… But the Devil would know. He'd see Mugman's eyes begin to glow and everything would fall apart.
"E-Elder Kettle… Please, let me explain."
The kettle's eyes widened. "You… You aren't even going to deny it?"
"As I said, Kettle. Little Cuphead and Mugman here weren't forced in the slightest." The Devil said. "Isn't that right, Mugman?"
Mugman felt like he was going to explode. He could feel all eyes in the room locked on him. But it was too late to turn back now.
"Y-yes, Father." He said, squeezing his eyes shut as he forcefully wriggled out of Elder Kettle's grasp. He felt like he was going to faint, but he had to stay strong. This was for Elder Kettle, to keep him alive, no matter the cost.
"Well? Come, come." The Devil said, his menacing smile widening. "It seems your grandfather needs some time to himself."
Cuphead was the first to move, quickly grabbing Mugman's arm. He could tell it wouldn't be long before Mugman snapped. He had to get his brother back to his room and fast.
Elder Kettle didn't move to stop them, watching in abject terror.
The Devil, whose smile was so wide it looked uncanny, placed his hands lovingly on the boys' shoulders. "Let's say goodbye to your Elder Kettle now! Remember to be polite."
"H-have a good night, Elder Kettle." Cuphead squeaked, still holding Mugman's arm tightly.
As for Mugman, he didn't speak, it was taking every ounce of strength he had to keep himself from hyperventilating.
Elder Kettle didn't reply. He simply stood there, watching blankly as his children left, led away by Satan himself.