Black Hollow

Chapter 5 - It's the Little Things

Kerry stared at the front of the End of the Rainbow Savings & Trust, thinking the structure looked more like something out of a fairytale than an actual bank. The building possessed a boulder-like front with dark green moss growing in the crevices and up the sides, mushrooms dotted the surface. Where she expected the front doors to be solid glass, they were thick oak doors, instead, with giant bronze rings for doorknobs. She was almost afraid to go inside, believing she was about to step into Narnia rather than a bank.

She glanced over at Arden. “People actually trust this place with their money?" Quinn beat them to the bank, but hung back for them once he reached the main doors, more than likely to see her reaction, Arden thought.

Arden nodded as he reached to open the thick, wooden door. “It's Black Hollow. People expect the myths because they are the myths." He pulled the door open and gestured for her to enter. However, before she managed to take one step, Quinn pushed past her and stepped inside, almost making her stumble as she came to a quick halt. She glanced back at Arden, but the man just gave her a weak shrug as he gestured for her to enter the bank again. Kerry rolled her eyes as she stepped past him.

“Welcome to the End of the Rainbow," a deep, guttural voice greeted her as soon as she stepped into the bank, bringing Kerry up short, hand on her chest, eyes wide.

Standing just inside the entrance was the largest…man?…she had ever seen. At first, when she entered the bank, she thought the bulky gray mass by the door was some odd stone sculpture, an attempt of Arden's to keep with the whole fairy world motif he had going. That is, until the giant mountain of rock spoke. And smiled at her, his teeth like brownish pebbles. Only sheer willpower kept Kerry from screaming.

She glanced past the giant figure, a badge pinned to a strip of leather draped over his chest and attached to his dark brown pants, and noticed Quinn standing there, a mischievous smirk on his face. The little bastard knew that would happen. That's why he rushed past me. She just glared at him as she turned back to the security guard by the door, noticing the thick wooden club leaning against the wall behind him. Of course, they wouldn't use guns for their safety. Wouldn't fit the theme of the place. “My apologies," she said with a deep breath. “I'm afraid I'm still getting used to things around here."

The security guard just smiled at her again, merriment dancing in his dark eyes. “No worries, ma'am. I almost screamed when I saw a plain human enter our bank to be honest. We all have our phobias." He reached out a thick arm, offering to shake her hand. “My name's Nunk. I'm head of Ogre Security here at the End of the Rainbow. If I can help you with anything, please let me know."

She reached out and took his massive hand, hers seeming childlike compared to the thick gray hand. She offered Nunk a small smile, hoping to recover from her faux pas. “I will, thanks." Arden still stood behind her and, luckily for him, did not have a smirk on his face. “Where to?" she asked him as she turned to face him.

“My office," he said. Before he led her in that direction, however, he turned back to Nunk. “Has Paddy made it in yet?"

The thick-bodied ogre shook his head. “Nah. I doubt he's dragged himself out of his hole." He then turned to Kerry and grinned “He actually dwells in a hole."

Kerry wasn't sure if Nunk was serious or not, so chose to remain quiet, just giving him another smile and a nod.

“Well, when he deems to grace us with his appearance, tell him I want to see him," Arden growled. He then gestured for Kerry to follow him as he moved to step past her. Once beside her, she saw him give Nunk a wink as he laughed softly.

Kerry rolled her eyes. Everyone makes fun of the tourist. Still, his reaction told her that not all employee relations were as they should be at the bank.

Quinn turned to follow Arden, but Kerry shoved her way past the little man, staying close to the man who hired her sister. Of course, she felt some satisfaction at shoving the leprechaun out of her way as he did her just a moment ago. Childish perhaps, but satisfying. She'd take it.

As she followed Arden, she tried to take in as much of the bank as possible. The teller booths were a series of slots carved out of a rough stone wall, while the floor appeared like a grassy field, even though it was still tile. How the hell they did that, Kerry had no clue. The walls were also stone with wall sconces every three feet with real flames providing the only light in the place, giving the interior of the bank the resemblance of a deep cavern somewhere in the middle of the Earth.

“Leprechauns live in caves?" she asked as they passed through the bank to the offices toward the back. “Your security guard said that Paddy lived in a hole."

Arden glanced back at her and shrugged. “More like fairy knolls, but they are buried back in the earth. At least, they are back in our home country. Here, we just live as we please. I actually have an apartment nearby. Others have homes out in the woods hidden among the trees." He pushed open the glass door to his office, holding it for her to pass through. “After you."

If the main part of the bank was something out of a fantasy novel, Arden's office could belong to a Top 500 company. His desk was large, covered in typical office paraphernalia—computer, paperwork, a Dilbert bobble-head—with a deep burgundy desk chair possessing a high back behind it. Bookshelves lined one wall overflowing with finance books and report folders, while on the opposing wall hung a painting of a golden sunset with a sailboat drifting across the ocean. He even had a small potted tree in the corner. A slight buzzing noise filled the office, which Kerry assumed came from the fluorescent lights overhead. The normalcy of the office gave Kerry an easier feeling about dealing with Arden in finding her sister.

Arden entered the office, closing the door behind him, and hung his hat on the hatrack by the door. As Quinn entered the office, he immediately triggered his transformation, shifting into a bushy redhead with a thick beard. He then hung his hat beside Arden's as he winked at Kerry before taking one of the plush burgundy chairs in front of the desk. She didn't think she'd ever become accustomed to seeing someone's body change like that.

Arden walked around the desk to take his chair, gesturing for Kerry to take the empty seat beside Quinn. “What I'm about to tell you needs to stay between us," he said, taking his seat. He leaned forward, forearms resting on his desk, fingers intertwined. “I'll help find your sister, but I also need to protect this community, and if word gets out about what I'm about to share with you, it could cause a panic."

Kerry nodded, willing to agree to anything at the moment for information on Brandie. She would decide later whether or not to keep his secret. While Arden's priority was his bank, hers was her sister. “What haven't you told me?"

Arden sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He was just about to tell Kerry what she wanted to know when a knock came at his office door. Everyone turned as the glass door opened, and a short man with a thick mane of red hair poked his head inside. His nose was round, almost like the top of a mushroom, and a bright red as if he drank too much alcohol. Kerry almost swore she smelled the booze on his person from where she sat. “Nunk said you wanted to see me," he said, and Kerry couldn't tell if it was a question or a statement.

Kerry watched as Arden stiffened, his eyes shrinking to narrow slits as he glared at the newcomer. Where before Arden had been casual and even a little playful, now he was all business. “Your shift started at eight this morning. Where were you?"

Paddy stepped inside, standing straight as he faced his boss. “The lads and I had a wee too much celebrating last night, if you know what I mean," he said, not looking at all apologetic. “There was a card game with Ruck and a few others. Ruck even won, so he bought several rounds. It would have been rude to refuse now."

“What you do on your own time is your business," Arden said. “Don't, however, allow it to affect your time here. If it happens again, I won't be forgiving."

Paddy nodded once. “Aye, sir." Then he turned and walked away.

Kerry watched as the man left, his face lacking any sign of remorse at having screwed up. If he felt reprimanded, he didn't show it. “He reeks of booze," she said, still staring at the door. “Should you allow him to handle people's money?"

Arden nodded. “He has lately. Problem is, even though I smell it on him, I don't smell it on his breath. I'm not sure what he's doing, but I don't think he's actually drinking."

“Setting up a defense for poor performance, I'm sure," Quinn said with disgust. “May the cat eat him and the devil eat the cat. They'd probably both get indigestion. I'm still not sure why you ever hired him."

Arden sighed. “Because he's from the home country like the rest of us. We take care of our own."

“He may be one of yours, but he be not one of mine," Quinn said as he shifted in his chair.

“You take care of your own, but not the humans you hire," Kerry snapped, tired of watching the interactions of Arden with his employees. “Now, why did you hire my sister? All she told me was that someone threatened your bank. That's a job for the police, not an investigator."

He glanced across the table at her, his stony expression grave. “It is if someone is trying to steal the bank's gold."