# XIV: The Meeting explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

## What happens

General Montague recounts the supernatural affliction and death of his ward, describing a consultation with physicians where one diagnoses a vampire. He follows the doctor's instructions, witnesses a black creature attack the girl, and sees it transform into Millarca. In the chapel, Carmilla appears to Laura, but the General attacks her with a hatchet; she escapes unharmed. The General reveals that Carmilla is actually Millarca, also known as Mircalla, Countess Karnstein, and urges Laura to flee.

## Themes in this chapter

### Supernatural and the Uncanny

The vampire attack and transformation of Carmilla into Millarca highlight the supernatural horror.

### Love and Sacrifice

General Montague's desperate attempts to save his ward reflect love and sacrifice.

### Faith and Skepticism

The conflict between the physicians over the vampire diagnosis illustrates skepticism versus belief.

## Character check-ins

### General Montague

Recounts the story of his ward's death and identifies Carmilla as the vampire Millarca.

### Carmilla

Appears in the chapel, transforms when attacked by the General, and vanishes.

### Laura Silver Bell

Narrator who witnesses the attack on Carmilla and is warned to flee.

### Madame Paradon

Arrives after the attack and questions Laura about Carmilla's whereabouts.

## Key lines

> I concealed myself in the dark dressing-room, that opened upon the poor patient’s room, in which a candle was burning, and watched there till she was fast asleep.

I hid in the dark dressing room adjoining the patient's room, with a candle lit, and waited until she fell asleep.

_General Montague describes his vigil before witnessing the vampire attack._

> The black creature suddenly contracted toward the foot of the bed, glided over it, and, standing on the floor about a yard below the foot of the bed, with a glare of skulking ferocity and horror fixed on me, I saw Millarca.

The black shape shrank and slid off the bed, then stood on the floor a yard away, glaring at me with savage horror—and I recognized Millarca.

_The transformation of the vampire into Millarca is revealed._

> She called herself Carmilla? ... Aye; that is Millarca. That is the same person who long ago was called Mircalla, Countess Karnstein.

He asked if she called herself Carmilla, then confirmed that she is Millarca, formerly known as Mircalla, Countess Karnstein.

_General Montague identifies Carmilla as the ancient vampire._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/xiv-the-meeting
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_31_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters