I don't know... if there was some proof, he might accept it after that impassioned speech. It was impressive. And believe it or not, Erik wants an end to this too. He would be willing to risk himself, even his own freedom, if he truly thought it could mean the end of slavery. He would just need something concrete, something more than the word of his kidnapper.

Then, he could agree to take the first two doses, to demonstrate that it is not destroying him. Alexi could tell him that if he still didn't believe him at that point, he could be allowed to leave. That's still early enough to detox from the potion.

For his own good enough to outweigh over a week's worth of agony and several days worth of near-insanity?