Benji opened his mouth, about to retort a bit sharply to Eli's words because really, he did not need this bloke's shite right now. He hadn't even been in the room when all this started so he didn't know what had or had not been said yet, but Samara spoke before he could.
She put her hand on her husband's chest as though she were going to push him away, but she didn't. She probably needed him near now - or anyone, for that matter, but having Benji near her was a dangerous prospect at that moment - because she was beginning to allow herself to believe, even though a small part of her still wanted to cover her ears when Eli said it near her. She clutched at the fabric of his clothing and despite her hysterics, there were still no tears on her face. "There's no need to explain how, because we already know." Samara looked at her brother and there was a coldness there he'd never seen before. "You said that you could protect the people, Benjamin. You couldn't even protect our mother."
Benji felt his stomach drop to the floor. Yes, he had said that the DMLE could offer protection to people with nightmares, but they didn't know how Cecelia had been killed. So far it looked like she was a casualty in the attacks, not anything to do with the nightmares and regardless, his sister blaming him for this was unthinkable to him. "Samara, I -" he was truly at a loss for words.
"Where was she?" Samara asked, ignoring him.
"In-in Hogsmeade. They've moved her body to St. Mungo's already. I've-I've already identified the body. You don't need-"
"Oh thank you very much, Benjamin. I think I'm perfectly competent in knowing what my own mother looks like. I was with her for four years before you ever came along." She kept her voice even and cold and despite the fact that she had never spoken to him in this way before, it was easier than she would have liked to admit.
"Mara...I did everything I could. I had no idea -"
"I can handle things from here, I think. It's time you left my home."
"But Jase-"
"Oh no," she laughed harshly and swayed a bit, leaning into Eli for support. "You think after letting our mother die that I would let you look after my son ever again? You are sorely mistaken."
Benji's voice was small when he said, "Samara, please. Don't do this-"
He was overcast by a much louder voice, however. "Mum! No!" Jason came running into the living room. "You can't do that!"
Samara's head whipped over to her son and she glared at him. "Jason Elijah, you go to your room-"
"Mum! You can't blame Uncle Benji-"
"Do not interrupt me when I am talking, young man! You shouldn't even be listening, now go to your room!"
"But Mum!"
Samara suddenly felt light headed and swayed to the left, the hand she had been clutching Eli's clothes with began to lose its grip as she fell, her vision going black.