Bertha Rheinfeldt's Untimely Death

The brief but poignant story of Bertha, the General's niece, whose murder by the vampire sets the revenge plot in motion.

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A Promising Life

A Beautiful and Beloved Girl Bertha's Character Bertha Rheinfeldt was the General's niece and ward. She was beautiful, blooming, and only three months before her death, she was in perfect health. The General loved her as his own daughter, and she brought joy to his home. She was looking forward to visiting Laura, a planned friendship that would have brought her happiness. A Bright Future Her life was full of promise, but the vampire's interest cut it short. The General's later references to her show that she was a creature of innocence and light, the perfect victim for a creature of darkness.

The Masked Ball Encounter

A Fateful Meeting The Vampire's Approach At the ball at Count Carlsfeld's schloss, Bertha attracted the attention of a young woman named Millarca, who was actually Carmilla. Millarca was witty and charming, and Bertha quickly became fond of her. The General, unaware of the danger, agreed to host Millarca at his home. The Beginning of the End This encounter was a carefully orchestrated trap. The vampire used the ball to gain access to Bertha, just as she would later use the carriage accident to enter Laura's home. The masked ball is a symbol of deception, hiding the vampire's true nature.

The Illness and Death

A Mysterious Decline Symptoms of the Vampire Bertha began to suffer from terrible dreams, then a specter that appeared in her room, and finally sensations of a cold stream against her breast and needle-like punctures. She grew weaker and paler, and the doctors could not help. The General, despite his skepticism, eventually suspected a vampire. The Final Night On the night of her death, the General hid in her dressing room and saw a black mass crawl over her bed. He struck at it with his sword, but it was Millarca, who vanished. Bertha died before dawn. Her death was the catalyst for the General's quest for vengeance.

Posthumous Vengeance

A Life Remembered The General's Motivation Bertha's memory drives the General's actions. He dedicates his remaining years to tracking down the vampire. In his narrative, he weeps as he speaks of her, and his anger is raw. Bertha's death is not in vain; it leads to the destruction of the vampire. A Parallel with Laura Laura's symptoms exactly mirror Bertha's, making Laura a second victim of the same vampire. The parallel underscores the vampire's pattern and the General's race against time. Bertha's fate is a warning that Laura narrowly escapes.

before the events of the story

a few months before her death

over several weeks, until her death

after her death, through the story