Lia Dewan

For alternate versions of Lia Dewan, see Lia Dewan's Character Hub

"When you have nobody, nobody's gonna save you."

―Lia Dewan to Tandy Bowen^[src]

Avandalia "Lia" Dewan is a former nurse and the leader of a community support group specializing in victims of abuse. She was secretly part of a human trafficking ring in New Orleans orchestrated by Andre Deschaine, who used the support group to target young women who Dewan later had kidnapped to force them into prostitution. Dewan welcomed Tandy Bowen and her mother into her support group, and subtly manipulated Bowen before kidnapping her and bringing her to the Viking Motel. Dewan then fled with Deschaine after the motel was attacked by Tyrone Johnson, but then reluctantly let Deschaine manipulate her own despair to ease his migraines before being ruthlessly abandoned on the road. Dewan was later found by Bowen and Mayhem and briefly taken to St. Theresa's Church so that Cloak and Dagger could know more about Deschaine's whereabouts. In the aftermath of D'Spayre's defeat, Dewan was brought to justice.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

From a young age, Lia Dewan wanted to become a cellist. On one occasion, she played her cello in front of a live audience with her parents watching. However, her father disapproved of her dream, forcing her into a life as a doctor.^[2] Dewan often played dress up, but her parents also disapproved.^[3]

A Deal with Despair[]

Running a Human Trafficking Ring[]

Dewan eventually became a nurse at a local hospital, where she met Andre Deschaine following his suicide attempt during the Roxxon Gulf incident. When he woke up, he was very sensitive to light, explaining that he had migraines. Dewan helped him through his injuries. When she touched his fingers, she suddenly saw a memory, causing her to stay still. However, she walked away like nothing happened.^[2] Deschaine showed her how much pain her parents caused her, manipulating Dewan into helping him in his goal.^[3]

Dewan was met by Deschaine would day. He told her about his powers to take people's despair to help his migraines. She decided to partner with Deschaine in running a support group to assist those in need. However, Deschaine's ability to manipulate emotions and playing off his victim's memories allowed them to take advantage of the more serious cases, eventually leading to kidnapping many girls as part of a sex trafficking operation.^[2] When Dewan wasn't tending to the members of her support group, she kept an eye on the girls that were kept at the Viking Motel.^[3]

Meeting Tandy Bowen[]

When Tandy Bowen joined the support group, she took an interest in Mikayla Bell. Dewan wanted Bell to talk about the bruises on her wrists, but Bell covered it up, saying it was nothing. The next meeting, Bell finally opened up, saying she found her boyfriend, Jeremy, scared when she came to see him. He allegedly fought off many men who broke in. Bell now trusted him more after seeing he was scared. Bowen rudely asked if that was truly the best conclusion and Dewan reminded her to calm down.^[1]

Bowen's push for Bell to break up with Jeremy became greater when she yelled at Bell again causing Bell to leave despite Dewan wanting her to stay. Later, Bowen met with Dewan who was furious at her because Bell turned up missing. Bowen blamed herself. Andre Deschaine showed up and talked to Bowen as Dewan left. Dewan later found that Bell overdosed and was in a hospital. She called Deschaine who was still with Bowen. Dewan met with Bowen at the hospital and warned her not to yell at Bell. Bowen said she would not and felt guilty. Dewan told Bowen that it was not her fault.^[4] Dewan had her girls at Viking Motel prepare for a shipment. However, the girls were saved by Cloak and Dagger, so Dewan claimed that they tried to escape, so they were killed. This was to instill fear into the victims.^[3]

Betraying Bowen[]

Bowen eventually became an issue for Dewan and Andre Deschaine when she started investigating the trafficked girls. Dewan befriended Bowen and offered to "help" with the investigation, even going so far as to share their feelings and experiences regarding abusive relationships. Dewan talked about her ex-boyfriend, Eric, who she claimed took advantage of her and forced her to perform unwilling and questionable acts for his clients and friends. Bowen asked where Eric's grow farm was, thinking she could get information on the trafficked girls.

Dewan attempted to remain friendly and supportive, telling Bowen the location. Now knowing where Bowen would be that night, she called an ambulance in. As Bowen left the building, she told Dewan that they needed to fight back against the abusers. Dewan responded by tasering Bowen, putting her into the trafficking ring.^[5]

Dewan and Deschaine watched the unconscious Bowen in the ambulance while on their way to the Viking Motel. Deschaine used his powers to make Bowen lose her hope. However, Dewan pointed out how unnaturally strong Bowen was and sedated her more when she early woke up. Deschaine agreed, but said that everyone had a breaking point. He continued to push Bowen further until she finally broke. The two then carted Bowen off into the motel.^[6]

Defeated by Cloak and Dagger[]

In the hotel, Dewan had Bowen meet Del, one of her servants. Bowen claimed Del was a slave, but Dewan proved her wrong by opening the door, saying Del could walk out. However, Del refused. Dewan then had her bodyguard, Bo, hold down Bowen as she forced Del to inhale a drug and then blow it at Bowen, causing her to be knocked unconscious as well as temporarily paralyzed.

When Bowen woke up, she could not move. Dewan talked to her about how she met Deschaine while she put clothes onto Bowen. Later, Dewan talked to a man, who made a deal to have sex with Bowen. Dewan then walked into Del's room only to find that she somehow got a phone. With the phone, Del realized that Dewan was lying about the people she "killed," As Del started to fight back, Bowen owned her hope and dagger back. She ripped through the wall, tackling Dewan, and then leaving.^[3]

Comatose[]

With their operation compromised, Dewan and Deschaine managed to escape, but Deschaine's migraines were getting worse. He asked if he could take just a little bit of her hope. Dewan refused, but Deschaine told her he just needed a little and it would be the last time. She reluctantly agreed. Deschaine proceeded to touch her head, stealing her hope. However, he stole all of it, putting Dewan into comatose. He drove away while leaving her on the side of the road.^[7]

Dewan was eventually found by the New Orleans Police Department. With help from Brigid O'Reilly, Tandy Bowen brought her back to St. Theresa's Church. Despite their animosity, Bowen decided to enter Dewan's mind, with Tyrone Johnson's help, to find Andre Deschaine, learning more about her captor's past in the process.^[2]

Jail Time[]

After Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson defeated Andre Deschaine, Dewan was turned in to the authorities and sent to prison. While picking up trash on the side of a road, she came across a poster for another missing girl.^[8]