You've been waiting for explanations? Here you go. Everything Bertrand knows. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

"What's wrong with him?"
"An hour ago, he was dust." Bertrand was failing to keep the irritation out of his voice, but the Count didn't seem to be reading the warning signs.
"Then how come you're not like it?" The tutor smoothed a hand over Vlad's forehead, pushing the Chosen One's hair out of his eyes, before moving to entwine his fingers with his student's; Vlad wasn't going to experience a second of doubt that he was alone, not if Bertrand got his way.
"I didn't just scare off the entire Council and reduce Ramanga to dust with a flick of the wrist." He stifled a yawn. "And I've felt better, so I can't imagine how exhausted Vlad is right now."

Ingrid raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure he needs you holding his hand?"
"He's not waking up alone." The ferocity of his glare forestalled any mocking she might have planned to do on the subject, and it was the Count who spoke next.
"How did this happen?" Bertrand took a moment to collect his thoughts, and began to speak.

"I reacted instinctively to the presence of a stake. I never meant to hurt him, let alone... and then I couldn't just leave him to crumble, so I... well, presumably you know we were both dust. Erin saw the whole thing."
"Then how are you here talking to us now?" They had to wait for an answer as Vlad shifted slightly in his sleep and Bertrand leant anxiously over the coffin to make sure he was alright. By the time he was satisfied, Erin and Malik were in the doorway, standing slightly too close, hands touching. Another thing for Vlad to cope with when he woke.
"I'm not entirely sure," he admitted, "we woke up in the Blood Cellar, bottles smashed everywhere... there was an urn on the floor, on its side... and Sethius' finger was gone. I think it must have had something to do with our return. But I don't know why the blood was everywhere, or how we're not covered in it." He glanced down at his student again. "And then Vlad had a vision and knocked the door off its hinges. I caught up just in time to see him dust Ramanga."

They were all still staring at him expectantly, but he had nothing to add.
"That's all I know, I'm afraid." There was a moment of silence before the Count exploded.
"You did what to my Blood Cellar?!" A slight murmur from Vlad as he turned restlessly in his open coffin silenced him, and he made a quick gesture for everyone to follow him outside, no doubt intending to continue his rant. The rest of the family, plus Erin, obediently made their way to the corridor – Bertrand stretched as far as he could and managed to catch the edge of the door with his fingertips without releasing Vlad's hand. The door swung closed, but the Count almost immediately opened it again.
"Fine, I'll leave you both to recover, but," he eyed their joined hands suspiciously, "the door stays open." He turned to Ingrid. "I suppose we'd better go and inspect the damage."