The Cup of Perpetual Torment was supposedly a mystical chalice that would solve the disruption in the fabric of reality caused by the simultaneous existence of two ensouled vampires. Supposedly, the one who managed to drink from the cup would be determined to be the subject of the Shanshu Prophecy. After a long fight, Spike beat out Angel for the cup, only to find that it held Mountain Dew. In reality, the Cup was a hoax set up by Rutherford Sirk under orders of Eve Levin and Lindsey McDonald as part of their plot to destroy Angel and take control of the remaining vampire with a soul, Spike.