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Apollo was the god of truth. That, he supposed, was why Poseidon had wanted him as a participating member.
He could have seen the truth clearly, seen Annabeth for what she was.
Apollo wasn't a fan of the girl. His interference had almost cost Apollo a serious punishment, and knowing Zeus's mood at that precise moment, after months of Athena fuming in his ears, encouraging a severe and unprecedented punishment, Apollo knew he had only Percy and Jason to thank for their prompt intervention.
Poseidon had mentioned some troubling things, like the bait during one of the early games, where Percy had risked getting seriously injured, Annabeth's casual treatment of Percy's life, and her way of taking control of the quest.
Annabeth's answers were as vague as they were truthful.
"The injuries would never have been fatal."
"There are risks in all quests."
“I just had more experience and knowledge.”
Nothing offensive, nothing problematic.
Apollo wasn't surprised when Poseidon looked at Piper and asked her to tell him Annabeth's merits in the endeavor.
“She defeated Medusa,” Piper replied, chin raised and confident. “She defeated Ares in one-on-one combat.”
The gods gasped.
Apollo smiled mischievously. “She's telling the truth.”
“Who told you these things, little girl?” Ares asked, growling.
Apollo could understand: losing to Percy was one thing; the boy was as loyal as he was honest. Ares's defeat in combat wasn't to be seen as a real loss; it was merely the intervention that prevented Kronos's victory. Ares was as relieved as the rest of them, especially since Percy had never spoken of it to anyone, proof of which was plain to see.
Annabeth Chase, however, had all her mother's flaws without any of her few, very rare, qualities.
"Annabeth Chase," Piper said. "Like she told me she was the one who defeated Polyphemus, who fought Hyperion, Atlas, Iapetus. You should all thank her that the Titans didn't win the war."
"Arrogant and deceitful," Poseidon said. "Without any redeeming qualities. No, daughter of Aphrodite, Annabeth Chase didn't do all those things. My son did them. Grover Underwood, Nico di Angelo, and Thalia Grace all witnessed those events."
Piper blinked. "The only thing special about Percy is that he's Annabeth's boyfriend."
A general gasp ran through the room.
To Apollo's surprise, it wasn't Poseidon who struck the girl down, but one of her sisters.
Drew Tanaka slapped Piper hard in the face. “You know nothing! Percy Jackson refused immortality for us! For all of us! You can bet your precious Annabeth wouldn't have cared.”
“That's not true!” Annabeth exclaimed. “I… I care about all of you! All of you!”
Apollo smiled coyly. “Lie.”