Spiderweb

By Mad Winters

Mackenzie Hargrove finds herself in a Spiderweb of mystery, romance, and adventure. She died activating her vampire side in order to become a witch hybrid. Her heart is held by one man- Draven Somers who is more than just a man; he's part banshee. Her siblings are also tangled in the Spider's Web of magic that ensues, all the while growing their

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Nov 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9789361725951

Book preview

Crystal Lake

C

rystal Lake is an immaculate spectacle of a rural small town. No meanness took place– if it did, it was swept under the rug as if a crime never happened. It's a peaceful town with a lower number of people living within. The number of people living in Crystal Lake was at a bare minimum of 1,001. The houses in Crystal Lake all sat located by a rather large lake for fishing, swimming, and gathering drinking water when the need arose.

          The small town was kept in tip-top shape making one wonder if any mischief ever happened. There's one particular house in Crystal Lake– made of powder blue oak wood that sits on private property; separated from the rest of the houses. This powder blue house was located on 1751 Twilight Avenue; at the end of a dust covered grovel road, leading up to the porch. This house had been known as the Hargrove Manor up until renovations began ten years prior. The three story house sat with nobody inside leaving it lifeless.

            This house was hidden behind a set of woods with overgrown hedges circling it. The hedges didn't crowd the house, giving it room to breathe. The place was hidden from view; in order to allow the family that once resided in it– privacy. Crystal Lake had a policy about giving families their own privacy while couples and individuals were cramped in the cul-de-sac surrounding the lake together. The water held a murky green, moss color startling visitors who traipsed by.

            The Hargrove household maintained their own pond, separate from the lake which held crystal opal blue depths. Though, the pond wasn't too deep– yet one could swim inside if they chose to. A homecoming of the torn apart family that once lived inside was on the way of becoming delivered. The middle child had been dragged to her childhood home by her best friend. The fact of the matter was the middle child– a twenty seven year old female had this sick sense that her one year relationship was on the rocks.

          Ugh! Pen, why make me do this? Mackenzie Hargrove groans as she gently slams the door of her dark blue jeep shut. She was one of those crazy drivers. Her candy green eyes narrow on her best friend since middle school.

          Penelope Keller tosses her honey blonde waves over her right shoulder as she jokingly scoffs, Kenzie, you need to chill. You know why you have to do this.

          Mackenzie cannot withhold the grimace that graces her soft pink, small, full lips. Her thick, shoulder length ebony chocolate brown curls brush the tops of her shoulders; bouncing as she scowls at the powder blue house that she barely grew up– fond of. She did not think moving back home would help her state of mind, I highly doubt moving home will clear my brain of cobwebs.

          Spiderwebs. And, it should. You've been living with Draven Somers for a year. Penelope comments, ripping off the bandaid that causes Mackenzie to seethe.

          Did Luce and Fred tell you where they were headed? Or did they just ditch? Mackenzie gently asks, thinking of her older sister and younger brother. She clings to the purple and black flannel jacket covering the short, white tank top hugging her slim, petite, tanned olive complected body. She shuffles in the black hiking boots on her feet before eyeing the black, cotton leggings clinging to her legs.

          Penelope was two inches taller than her best friend, They didn't tell me. Lucinda mumbled something about research. Then, she was gone.

          Mackenzie began to massage her forehead as she sighs, allowing her eyes to stare up at the powder blue house. She shakes her head, Want to head inside? See what's changed?

          Penelope nonchalantly shrugs as she gestures for Mackenzie to lead the way into the three story household, This place is as magnificent as I remember! Even more beautiful than ages ago!

          It's beautiful when your siblings are together– not torn apart by unforeseen circumstances. Mackenzie grumbles, being sure to lock her jeep doors. She then proceeded to head towards the gray steps of the Hargrove Household, slowly inching towards the front door.

          Unforeseen circumstances? Luce told you she didn't trust Draven yet you left with him anyway. Don't you recall preaching about family mattering more than some piece of ass? Penelope asks, snorting as she chooses not to help the situation.

          Mackenzie full on turns a glare to her best friend. She eyes the slimmer, sun-kissed complected woman in her view. She was so close to unlocking the plain, white oak door to stumble into the dust covered foyer, I beg your pardon? Those were not my words!

          I know you thought you were in love with the dude who's been a friend of the family since before we were born. The man is thirty seven, too old, stale and has you questioning your love for him. Don't you think it's time to cut the cord, let him go? Penelope gently muses, pursing her lips as embarrassment and confusion sweeps into the candy green eyes of Mackenzie.

          Mackenzie becomes sad as she unlocks the front door, turning the knob so they can enter the house. She shrugs, Do not bring up his age or mine for that matter! He's sweet and cold.

          Just remind me to never date, Kenz. I would kill…no, sorry, I would eat a frog before losing my shit like you. I'm not sorry. Penelope said, being the worst possible friend at the moment.

          Mackenzie couldn't answer her best friend as she stepped into the foyer, fumbling for the switch to give them light. She thought better of wasting electricity, recalling it was mid-afternoon. She went around pulling open the curtains causing her to cough via the dust kicking around, Shit!

          Take deep, slow breaths! Penelope comments, moving towards her best friend. She was about to place a hand on the tiny, brunette choosing to think better of the idea.

        A noise of metal clinking on the floor sounded from the kitchen on their right.

          Mackenzie was done trying to catch her breath as her heart sped up, Should we investigate the noise?

          Kenzie, nobody should be in this house! It was locked. Penelope is downplaying the noise, making her best friend wonder how they were friends in the first place.

        Mackenzie raises an ebony eyebrow at her best friend, You forget that burglars exist!

        Crime doesn't happen in Crystal Lake. Or have you forgotten? They keep their side of the street clean. Penelope says, causing Mackenzie to roll her eyes.

          A figure emerges from the shadows close to the kitchen. The figure is five foot nine withholding a frying pan in one hand. As the figure emerges, it's a rather handsome, chiseled twenty six year old with emerald eyes; short, coffee brown curls and tanned skin. Relief floods the muscular male who was decked from head to toe in a black tee shirt with black, snug fitting jeans and black combat boots, Oh, it's just you!

        Who is he? Penelope smugly asks, nudging the ribs of Mackenzie.

          Mackenzie had never been so annoyed to see somebody in her life. She wasn't relieved at catching sight of her brother's best friend, The idiot best friend of my brother. I thought you two crossed paths. He's been best friends with Frederick for about five years.

          We haven't officially met. I'm Curran Winters. He mumbles, huffing as he slowly lowered the frying pan– nodding to Penelope. He looked like the loner type with very little to no friends. His jaw set before casting his emerald eyes to a scowling Mackenzie, I didn't know the trash returned.

          Uh, you may want to watch your tongue. You don't live here, boy! Mackenzie couldn't keep the scorn out of her voice as she addressed the devil. For whatever reason, she couldn't stand him. She usually just referred to him as 'thing, trouble or demon'– never calling him by his name.

          Penelope clears her throat to slay the tension in the atmosphere, Why are you at the Hargrove Household by yourself?

          Curran moved closer into view so he could properly see them. He mostly kept looking at Penelope, hating the pain Mackenzie caused her family. He had been witness to what went down a year ago to rip apart the family dynamic of a trio, I wasn't meant to be here by myself.

          So, why are you? Mackenzie asks with her nostrils flaring. In all honesty, she felt like a fire breathing dragon. She tried to take deep, steady breaths to keep from lashing out.

        A frown twisted the soft pink, full lips of Curran. He dug his hands deep into the pockets of his black jeans before he found his words, Frederick promised to meet me three days ago. He hasn't shown up or messaged.

          You lost my brother? Mackenzie asks, clenching her jaw as she was ready to break off her own teeth.

          I did not lose your brother. None of this would have happened, had you not ran off with some old dude who just wants to use you. Curran coldly remarks, scolding her. He rolls his eyes, snatching up his cherry red leather jacket with a black hoodie interwoven inside. He was about to see himself out, not fancying the idea of sticking around if Mackenzie was going to be at the house.

          Penelope purses her lips, shaking her head at the odd pair seemingly on the outs. She reaches for the doorknob, making sure Curran can't just escape, You cannot just leave. Frederick is your best friend!

          I don't want to be stuck with Lucifer's girlfriend. Curran grumbled, jabbing a thumb directly at Mackenzie.

          Mackenzie kept her temper in check, not really wanting to fight. Her thoughts are heavily set on her brother as she shrugs, I'll leave. I may know where he is.

          Curran perked up, Why would you know where he is? The last time you were in town, you weren't that close!

          Penelope groans as she wags her finger at Curran, Can you just not fight with her for a change? If she knows a place then she knows a place.

          Actually, I know three places. Mackenzie beams, having forgotten her temper in order to consider where Frederick may have disappeared.

        Curran nods as he slips his arms into the red leather jacket, gesturing towards the front door. He then eyes Mackenzie like the alien he thought of her as, Are we going to find Fred or not?

          We are going to find Freddy. Or should I say, Penny and I. You can stay behind. Mackenzie mutters, eyeing her best friend who is far from impressed.

          No, no. Y'all are not arguing like you should be married! We are all going. End of discussion. Penelope informs Mackenzie, shoving her towards the front door as a bitter seeming Curran is the first to exit the Hargrove Household.

          As much as Mackenzie didn't want Curran tagging along, she couldn't disregard him. She had known that he was a decent enough guy who seemed to be caring. On the outside, she knew he showed a different story. She had brief conversations in the past with Curran before last year killed a budding, possible friendship. She felt bad about everything, sort of wishing she could go back in time.

          She climbed into the driver's side of her jeep, blowing out a raspberry when everybody was in, buckled up, while sporting a sour expression. She internally shrugs before starting up the engine of her deep blue jeep. Her eyes cut to Penelope who bore a worried expression while Curran was focused on nature from the window seat. She grins like the devil, Are ya ready to test fate?

          Curran's eyebrows knit together as he sports a puzzled expression. He parts his lips, wondering what the she-devil was implying.

          Kenzie, sweetheart, I believe you mean; tempt fate. Penelope nervously chuckles, shaking her head before she adds as an afterthought, Let's not drive like a speed demon about to crash into everything! We just got here not too long ago!

          Wait, what? Curran mumbles, looking between the two women just as Mackenzie chose to speed off. He was flung hard into the backseat causing a groan of pain to escape his lips. He grew slightly dizzy, rubbing at his forehead.

          Mackenzie just drove so carelessly it was a wonder that she had a driver's license. Her tongue peeked from the corner of her mouth, making Penelope become nauseated as her friend zoomed from Crystal Lake which wasn't just a small town. She ran a few red lights, squinting as she shot down different roads. She nearly did kill them causing her to put on the brakes when a beautiful set of two kittens presented themselves. She gawked upon eyeing the two black and white cats yet one had more white with slightly greener eyes.

          Should she put her jeep in drive and stumble from the vehicle in order to scoop up the precious beasts? She sighed, knowing she would have to let them go– fully aware they were more than likely untamed, wild kittens. Sadness washes over her until an angry voice reminds her of where she was.

            What the fuck is wrong with you, she-devil? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US! Curran all, but roared as he sat forward. His voice breached the faraway gleam in the green eyes of Mackenzie.

          Mackenzie shot the male a special scowl, Oh, and you couldn't have killed us with that frying pan earlier? Please! Go touch some grass.

          Penelope touched a hand lightly to her forehead. She understood where Curran was coming from. She finds her voice so they don't kill each other yet, Can we just find Freddy?

        Curran sat back, becoming moodier than moments prior.

          Mackenzie drove in cold, bitter, angry silence as her eyes kept flickering to Curran. She was the first to spot Frederick sitting outside of his favorite pizzeria that was a hole in the wall with little to no crowds that was off the beaten path. She quickly parked her jeep in the parking lot, jumping out of her vehicle after unbuckling her seatbelt.

          Frederick had a whole pizza of cheese with garlic and parmesan in front of him. He released a sad sigh as Mackenzie reached her brother, placing a hand upon his shoulder. He jumped then relaxed upon realizing it was just his sister, Trudy is the devil.

          Trudy? Mackenzie softly inquires, having no recollection of Trudy.

          Trudy is his girlfriend which you would know if you were close like you used to be. The annoying tone of Curran startled Mackenzie. He may have been slow exiting the vehicle, but he was standing a few inches a bit too close to the brunette.

        Mackenzie opted to sit across from her brother so she wouldn't nearly graze Curran. Her focus was on her loved ones, not an idiot. She rolled her eyes, Freddy, what happened?

          Trudy has been cheating on me for as long as we've been together. Frederick says, growing a lot more sad within. He had been in love with what he assumed was a real, true woman who wouldn't rip out his heart.

          Cheating with who? Curran asks, invested in the personal life of his best friend. He chose to place a hand on the back of Mackenzie's chair in order to lean in. His emerald eyes were set on the ocean blue eyes of his best friend.

        Trudy has been cheating on me with Carly and Joseph. Frederick answers with a coat of red becoming evident upon his usually fair skin. He was embarrassed by the revelation as irritation sank into Curran.

        I gave those sick fuckers a pass. Curran coldly replies as his anger grows tenfold. He was going to pay Trudy, Carly, and Joseph a visit since they used both of the men. He had known them longer than he knew Frederick, not thinking anything negative could come of it.

          Mackenzie sat in silence as her eyes saw the prominent pain in the dark blue eyes of Frederick. She frowned, unsure of how to comfort him. What could make a heartbroken person feel ten times better? She sighed, trying to drum up an answer, Freddy, when did this happen?

          Three days ago. Trudy video recorded the break up, having posted it online. She called me an ugly ass, fat faggot who deserves to die smothered in shit and dragged down a ditch. Frederick grew teary eyed, further pissing Curran off.

          That's it. I'm off. Curran grumbles as he turns in the direction of Mackenzie's jeep. He knew she forgot the jeep keys, leaving Penelope to babysit.

          Mackenzie not only heard the venom in Curran's words, she felt them. She hurriedly sat up, blocking his path, You cannot just steal my jeep! That's our only way back home! I don't go around stealing your jeep!

          I have a motorcycle, babe. Curran says, briefly gripping her shoulders before patting her head. He adds as an afterthought before walking around her, And, this is important. Trust me.

        Mackenzie couldn't get to her jeep thief in time as Penelope squealed, having not realized that she had just been stolen too. She frowned, growing bitter as she nonchalantly shrugged. She eyes the semi-orange, pink, and lavender skylines. She returns to her brother, I'm sorry about, Trudy.

          Don't be, Kenzie. Don't be. Frederick said, perking up at how much Mackenzie did care to come find him. He knew if his sister didn't care that she wouldn't search or even bother. He forgot what it was like to be best friends with Mackenzie.

        Any new video games that tickle your fancy? Mackenzie inquires, hoping to distract Frederick by taking his mind off of what the asshat trio did to him.

        Frederick Hargrove wracked his brain for any new video games. He was a gamer through and through. However, he usually spoke fondly of the same old same ones he could play over and over. His eyes shone as a grin split his dark pink, full lips, Megaman–

          Mackenzie knew Frederick was going to bring it up as she wove the conversation in the direction of one of his other favorite video games by accident, Who names a flower, Flowey? Sounds like the need to be potty trained!

          He's a psychopathic flower who seems innocent. It's how the game lures you in. Frederick animatedly speaks, sipping on some of his tea while gesturing for Mackenzie to take a slice of the cheese pizza. He got in it just in case, knowing her favorite pizza was cheese with pepperoni a close second.

        I think your flower may need to be potty trained. Mackenzie says, grinning from ear to ear as she jokes with her brother who somewhat begins to feel normal again. She takes a slice of cheese pizza, feeling the satisfaction of hunger in the pit of her stomach subside. How did she not realize she was starving?

Death

M

ackenzie was walking side by side with Frederick. Her hands were buried in the depths of her purple and black flannel jacket which had been a gift from Lucinda. A chill clung to the October air, sending a chill running along her spine. Her teeth began to chatter as she sensed something was off– maybe even wrong. She was just glad darkness had yet to blanket the small town of Crystal Lake.

          Do you think something is wrong? Frederick suddenly mused, briefly cutting his dark blue eyes to his sister.

          Mackenzie couldn't answer her brother. She gently bit her bottom lip as she mulled it over, It's definitely a possibility.

          They should have been back by now. Frederick voices, more or less in a mumble.

          Mackenzie doesn't speak too much as they wind up in front of the three story house of the Hargrove family. Her eyes narrow upon seeing a familiar figure of a five foot nine man in their driveway. She scowls at his backside, trying to be angry with him– nearly failing. She clears her throat gaining the attention of the man who's standing beside his black, classic mustang. She did love him, but was it enough?

          What are you doing here? So soon? MacKenzie asks, causing her boyfriend to turn around.

          Frederick rose an eyebrow, having never formally