A seal assembly and method of directing fluid flow away from a seal. The seal assembly comprises an inner seal member coupled to a rotatable shaft and an outer seal member which is either rotatable or static. The inner seal member has a plurality of knives spaced apart from each other and extending radially away from the shaft. The outer seal member has a rub surface disposed to abut a terminal edge of at least one of the plurality of knives to thereby form a seal. An outer knife of the plurality of knives of the inner seal member extends axially at an angle and is adapted to direct fluid flow away from the seal.