Carmilla: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

The General continues his story. He says that he quickly began to notice some drawbacks of Millarca living with them. She often complained of fatigue and would not emerge from her room until late in the afternoon. She would also disappear from her room and be seen walking as though in a trance. He had thought perhaps she was sleepwalking, but that did not explain how she left her room without unlocking the door.

At the same time, Bertha began to grow ill and weak. She experienced frightening dreams, followed by hallucinations of both Millarca and a large black beast. One night she felt the sensation of cold water against her breast and the piercing of needles. In the present, Laura—who is listening intently to the General’s story—is shocked to hear the similarities between Bertha’s symptoms and her own, as well as the resemblance between Millarca and Carmilla.

The General’s story is interrupted as the carriage approaches the ruined village of Karnstein. The General comments on the bad nature of the Karnstein family, and points out the chapel. He hears a woodman, whom he hopes to ask for the location of the grave of Mircalla, Countess of Karnstein. Recognizing the name, Laura’s father asks the General if he would like to see the portrait they have of her back at the schloss. The General replies that he has seen the original portrait, and it is what inspired him to explore the chapel. Laura’s father is confused, as the Countess has been dead for years, but the General claims he must enact his vengeance against her. He intends to cut off her head, which only further confuses Laura’s father. 

Laura, who has grown fatigued, takes a seat as the General calls for the woodman. The woodman is unable to tell them anything useful, but he informs them that there is a ranger of the forest who knows the location of all the monuments of the Karnstein family and offers to go find him. The General asks why the village is so deserted, and the woodman tells them the village was attacked by a vampire. They were only saved by the arrival of a passing nobleman who defeated the vampire by cutting off its head. The nobleman then reportedly removed the tomb and body of Mircalla Karnstein, the location of which is now unknown. He then departs, and the General prepares to finish his story.