Her tendrils crept in every corner of her as they slowly being to twirl and coil around one of the statues she had collected. A statue that represented a man with wings. No doubt an angel. But similar to the old Victorian era. It did not matter to her as Wrathica willed them to tighten. Their strength reached to a point where the entire statue shattered like clay. She smiled, feeling enjoyment to the thought of doing it to a real angel. In her mind, she was already picturing the statues pieces being replaced with bones, blood and guts as the head would be lifeless. But her smile faded when she heard heavy stone foot steps and to her side, she saw Hogsten enter the room, and to her displeasure, he had come empty handed. 

Wrathica, in a disappointed and darkly manner as she peered her sharp finger to scratch his skin.

“And here I thought you would be more useful like this. But I guess you are as incompetent as a lump of stone. Perhaps I should carve you into a new pavement instead.”. 

But then something crowded behind. A small impish creature made of stone that resembled a gargoyle. His face looked as if he was always grinning even though he wasn’t. He slowly crept towards her in a hunch and said,

“My lady, you should not be so surprised given to her magical power. After all it was you who trained her in the mystic arts. Who knows better her limits than you do?”.

Wrathica glared at the creature for a moment then her eye shifted and face sank as she received his words. 

Wrathica, in a defeated sigh.

“Perhaps you are correct, Vago. It seems I overestimated this brute’s capabilities. It seems brute force will not be enough to subdued her.”.

Then dark shadows toilet around the gargoyle named Vago. He may not have looked it but he was somewhat scared as the tendrils wrapped around his legs. But it was not as terrifying as when Wrathica stood before him, lowered her head and her dark cold blue eyes met with his that he was truly shaking with fear. 

“So tell me my little impish gnome, what should be my next course of action be? What was it that it was worth interrupting me for? Have you forgotten your place? Or should I remind you?”

The grinning gargoyle seemed to be calm despite the tendrils coiling around him. However he looked into her eyes and simply said in the more level headed manner.

“Would you rather I tell you what you want to hear rather than tell you the truth. I thought someone of your status would appreciate a subordinate who was honest rather than a simple yes man.”

She said nothing as her dagger eyes continue to linger into what counts as a soul inside his rock like exterior. But after moments consideration to his words. The tendril release and the gargoyle breathed again.

Wrathica, as the tendrils sank back into her.

“You do have a point. But my question is still not answered.” 

Vago, rubbing his arm.

“It seams to me that the more power you try to use to stop her. The more power she uses to fight back. I read a fascinating book about a general that said that sometimes the best way to attack someone is to their mind.”.

Wrathica, raising her eyebrow.

“Her mind?”.

Vago

“Psychological warfare. If we wish to subdue. Why not simply trick her into doing it of her own free will?”

Wrathica

“So I find her weakness. And use it to make her submit without fighting back. But we don’t know what her weakness is.”.

Vago, lifts up a piece of newspaper that shows a picture of the Hell festival of a woman having her hair drenched in alcohol. 

“I think I might know someone who knows more about her than you do.”.