General Spielsdorf's Story of Bertha's Death

General Spielsdorf recounted the tragic story of his ward, Bertha Rheinfeldt. At a masked ball, Bertha had been befriended by a beautiful young woman named Millarca and her mother, the Countess. The Countess, claiming a sudden emergency, left Millarca in the General's care. After returning home, Bertha began to suffer from the same symptoms as Laura: nightmares, a sensation of coldness, puncture marks on her neck, and a gradual decline. The General, suspecting a vampire, hid in Bertha's room and saw a black creature transform into Millarca, who was attacking Bertha. He struck at her with his sword, but she vanished, and Bertha died at dawn.