hand of hate 01 - destiny blues Read Free Page A

    
    Cars swerved around me, honking. People came running from all directions. My instincts screamed to run and hide, but my body responded slowly, each vertebra in my neck answering to roll call individually, as my inner TIVO reran the highlights of my humiliating flight and four-point-landing over and over and over in my mind. Stand up, Mattie. Get out of the street .    
    “Miss, do you need help,” somebody asked me.    
    I choked on the foul stench that engulfed me, unable to answer. I rubbed my forehead; avoiding eye contact. I needed time to figure out how to deal with this. You’ve really done it this time, Mattie. What was I thinking? More than anything, I wanted to slink off without being noticed.    
    “Is anybody hurt? Call nine-one-one.”  
    I looked around, but the crowd hemmed me in with their concern. I never liked being the center of attention. When you come from the wrong side of the tracks, you strive to keep a low profile.    
    “It’s one of the meter maids.”  
    Tendrils of shame curled around my neck.   Parking Control Officer.     
    “I saw the whole thing.”  
    My cheeks burned in humiliation. I didn’t remember colliding with anything other than the hydrant. I was pretty sure I hadn’t hit anybody human. Wouldn’t I remember if I did?    
    “Check out the scooter.” I instantly recognized the nasal whine of Lacey Lippman, followed by the sound of sniggering laughter.     
    “Oh no, Mattie.” I cringed as the Honorable Sylvia Jefferson ran toward me, pearls askew, sensible pumps clacking authoritatively against the pavement. She waved her arm at the crowd. “Get back, give her some room! Are you okay?”  
    The whoop-whoop of an approaching ambulance added to the chaos. I gritted my resolve, pulled off my helmet, took a deep breath, and clambered to my feet unaided.  
    “I’m good, thanks.” Hands reached out to me, but I avoided them, and took a few stiff steps toward the curb. A headache pounded at the base of my skull. I brushed myself off, straightened my collar and tucked my shirt back in. I’d grown up a tomboy; raised mostly by an older brother who’d taught me to take my licks as they came. Besides, I’d already lost it once this morning. Walk it off . Mattie Blackman was nobody’s princess.    
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 4  
    Two hours later I sat opposite my red-faced supervisor in his City Hall office. My scrapes stung like crazy, and I had a booming headache of mythic proportions. The EMTs had taped big white squares of gauze to each of my knees, the palms of both hands, and one elbow. My white Parking Control shirt had a torn sleeve, a lost button, and a big oil stain on the left boob, but miraculously, I had managed to avoid hitting the mayor. My shirt was the only loss. Oh yeah, and the trike.  
    Of their own accord, my eyes drifted to the corner of Mike’s office. I gulped down a horrified giggle. Teratosis was a rare condition, but the symptoms were well documented. Once you acquired an un-materialized demon, you simply couldn’t get any more. It was not possible.    
    “Mattie, at least give me the courtesy of pretending you’re paying attention, would you? I swear you’ve got the attention span of a gnat. This is exactly what I am talking about.”     
    “Sorry.”  
    I felt more like a four-year old facing her first spanking than a grown woman in her late twenties. Poor Mike. He probably felt worse than I did. Along with being my boss, he was a good friend. For the last six years, I’d eaten all my Thanksgiving dinners at his house. I’d helped him shop for his wife’s birthday presents. Hell, my brother was his mechanic.  
    “How about explaining to me how the hell this happened?”  
    Of course the harder I tried not to look, the more fascinating the vampire toad became. My glance flicked to the corner again. This particular demonic hallucination smelled strong enough to curl my nose hairs. Its yellow eyes