Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward was a music journalist and witch. She is Bailey Ward's mother, who believed Amelia drowned in Boston when she was 11 years old.

## Background

Amelia Ward was a journalist for Spin Rock (a major music magazine) and the East Coast enquirer under the alias Jessie Chatters.

Bailey has a memory of playing twirler with her mom and Lydia, during which her mother slips and a mysterious violet vial tumbles out of her pocket (a potion), which she passes off as perfume. However, a rancid smell drifts from the "perfume" and as Bailey cleans it her mother yells at Bailey to not touch it. At that moment, Lydia's mother, Vivian Summers demands that Lydia return home with her. Amelia criticizes Vivian for neglecting her daughter and "covering her tracks". Outraged, Vivian indignantly pulls Lydia out of the Ward's home.

## Plot

### Book 3

At the end of Book 2, Bailey receives a memory vial of blue gas with a note telling her to not trust anyone from Arash Shirazi, who was missing for several weeks. Upon inhaling the gas, Bailey witnesses a memory of her mother being bitten by snakes during a ritual murder by a cloaked figure. Shaken by this revelation, an infuriated Bailey begins questioning her past and dives into investigating her mother's death.

After calling her father, Don Ward, Bailey discovers her father lied to her about Amelia dying in Boston; although her father is genuinely unaware Amelia was murdered, he tells Bailey that Amelia had drowned in Ipswich instead of Boston. Bailey continues digging for information, leading her to Ipswich PD before being swiftly kicked out by Officer Chip Taylor, who is visibly disturbed by Bailey asking about her mother's case. However, she is led back to Chip upon finding the address of Detective Taylor, the primary investigator of the case, from Sophia at town hall. Taylor tells Bailey that Amelia had been working as a gossip columnist under the alias Jessie Chatters in Ipswich for her magazine, Spin Rock, before her death. During this time, Amelia looked into the Ipswich tourism fund, who realized Betsy Sage was stealing from, much to the latter's fury as the Ipswich Witch Museum was nearly closed as a result.

Amelia also investigated Vivian Summers, Lydia Summer's mother, who appeared to be linked to Viper Capital.

As a result of Amelia's investigations, a hit was placed on her, which was accepted by the creed of the Predator Spirit. Vittorio, a member of the creed and former flame, warned her about the hit and helped arrange her disappearance, going so far as to set up a dead body and disguise it as Amelia.

Amelia fled to Rabbit Island without her family knowing that she was still alive. As a result of being on the island, her third eye was cursed, and she developed tremors.

## Relationships

Amelia seemed to have a negative relationship with Lydia's mother, Vivian Summers. However, it was revealed that Summers was borrowing money from her to support her family. Nonetheless, Lydia had fond memories of Amelia, preferring her over her own mother.

Amelia made enemies during her work as a music journalist and gossip columnist, namely Betsy Sage and her nephew, Spud Biddle.

Amelia had a romantic relationship with Vittorio before she met her current husband, Don Ward.

## Quotes

"Ms. Sage may look like a lovely kook, but her past is a sordid one. Alcholic... in and out of jail... Even today... suspicions... embezzled money from the Ipswich Tourism Fund...." - Amelia's article for the East Coast Enquirer