"Wait a second," said Phoebe. "Haven't we done the 'greatest power that can destroy us all thing' before? Wasn't that supposed to be the Hollow?"
"That was different," said Toushell. "The Hollow is a non-sentient force. It can only act through another. The evil I speak of, while not overly intelligent, is smart enough to pose a threat nearly as great as the Hollow."
"Okay, back up a second," said Piper. "We haven't done anything to unleash any kind of evil. I don't know what your game is but we're not buying it."
"I didn't say you had done anything," said Toushell. "I said your ignorance would unleash the evil. You arrogant humans believe you know everything. How little you truly know. And that ignorance has put us all in danger."
"Ignorance?" questioned Paige. "What ignorance?"
"Ignorance of ancient evils for one," said Toushell. "There are things from the past of which you have no knowledge about."
"That's the second time you've mentioned an ancient evil," said Leo. "Just what is this evil you keep talking about?"
"Gargoyles," said Toushell. "As I said the last was vanquished centuries ago. But remnants of them remain. It is one of these remnants that will allow the gargoyles to be reborn and threaten us all."
"Gargoyles?" Paige questioned. "You mean like those things carved on the roofs of cathedrals and churches? I thought they were just mythical creatures."
"They were real at one time," said Leo. "Toushell is right about one thing. They were vanquished centuries ago. And they did represent a very dangerous threat not only to good but evil as well."
"Okay," said Piper, "so these gargoyle things used to exist. If they were destroyed how are we supposed to cause their resurrection?"
"She has acquired one of the remnants of which I spoke," said Toushell looking at Paige. "Its proximity to your magic will soon create the gargoyles anew. And that single creature will soon breed with such rapidity they will overwhelm everything within a short time."
"Me?" questioned Paige. "What is this remnant you keep talking about?"
"An egg," said Toushell. "Several hours ago you were presented with the egg of a gargoyle. Gargoyles are magical creatures. Your magic has caused it to be revived. Shortly it will hatch. The hatchling will grow to full maturity within a matter of hours. And a full-grown gargoyle is virtually indestructible."
"You mean that egg thing I got from Mr. Sutton?" Paige asked. "That's a gargoyle egg?"
"Yes," said Toushell. "Around mortals the eggs are inert. They remain in a state of stasis. But in the proximity of magical beings such as you the eggs obtain the sustenance they require to hatch. You have had the egg for several hours. It will soon hatch."
"Leo?" questioned Piper. "Is anything he's telling us true?"
"Some of it," said Leo. "Like he said the last known gargoyle was vanquished hundreds of years ago. I'll need to check with the Elders on the rest of what he's told us."
"You do that," said Piper. "We'll keep our friend here until you return."
"There is no time for this foolishness," said Toushell as Leo orbed out of the office. "Every second we delay brings us closer to the egg's hatching. We must prevent that no matter the cost. You simply do not understand the danger involved here."
"So why don't you explain it to us?" Phoebe asked.
"I all ready have," said Toushell. "If the egg hatches the gargoyle will grow to maturity very rapidly. Gargoyles are not like other creatures. Each is capable of reproducing offspring independently of any others. Each of those offspring can also reproduce offspring. Within days hundreds will be created. To prevent this we must prevent the egg from hatching."
"Asexual reproduction?" questioned Paige. "I learned about that in college. But I've never heard of a creature that could reproduce so rapidly."
"You have never encountered a gargoyle before," said Toushell. "We must hurry. Every second we delay brings us closer to the egg hatching."
"We need to wait until Leo gets back," said Piper. "Just to make sure everything you've told us is the truth."
"Foolish witch," said Toushell. "Do you realize what will happen if that egg hatches? The gargoyle will immediately fly away to a secluded spot to complete its maturity. Once it has matured it will begin to feed. Gargoyles subsist on blood. Human blood. It will begin to feed on any unsuspecting mortals it encounters. When it has gorged itself enough then it will begin to reproduce. Each of those offspring will repeat the cycle. You must take me to the egg now while there is still time to prevent this catastrophe."
Piper looked at Toushell. He was a demon and she naturally didn't trust demons. But so far everything Leo knew about gargoyles corroborated what he had said. And if the gargoyles were as dangerous as they seemed to think then allowing the egg to hatch could prove disastrous.
"Okay," said Piper finally. "But no funny stuff. Leo can still find us no matter where we are. Paige, orb us to the manor. But you try anything funny and I'll vanquish you in a heartbeat, got it?"
"Understood," said Toushell. "You have no fear of me. My only concern at the moment is the egg."
"Piper, are you sure this is such a good idea?" Phoebe asked. "Maybe we should wait for Leo to get back."
"We can wait at the manor," said Piper. "Besides, if this gargoyle thing is that dangerous we can't afford for that egg to hatch. At least this way we'll be there if something does happen."
Without another word Paige orbed them all to the manor.