A labyrinth seal system for a turbine engine comprising: a rotor comprising a first labyrinth knife set and a second labyrinth knife set, and a stator comprising: a first inner wall having a first inner diameter; a second inner wall having a second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter, wherein at least a portion of the first labyrinth knife set is positioned radially between the first and the second inner diameters (216, 220); a step having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the step transitions to the first inner wall and the second end of the step transitions to the second inner wall; and a plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) that passes partially through the step and through the first inner wall, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) is configured to allow at least one of a liquid and a gas from within the stator to flow through the stator, wherein the rotor is positionable in the stator such that first labyrinth knife set is positioned axially within the first inner wall and the second labyrinth set is positioned axially within the second inner wall, and wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) is adjustable by way of an aperture adjustment ring to create a negative pressure within the second inner wall relative to the first inner wall to cause a reverse flow within the second inner wall. a rotor comprising a first labyrinth knife set and a second labyrinth knife set, and a stator comprising: a first inner wall having a first inner diameter; a second inner wall having a second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter, wherein at least a portion of the first labyrinth knife set is positioned radially between the first and the second inner diameters (216, 220); a step having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the step transitions to the first inner wall and the second end of the step transitions to the second inner wall; and a plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) that passes partially through the step and through the first inner wall, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) is configured to allow at least one of a liquid and a gas from within the stator to flow through the stator, wherein the rotor is positionable in the stator such that first labyrinth knife set is positioned axially within the first inner wall and the second labyrinth set is positioned axially within the second inner wall, and wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) is adjustable by way of an aperture adjustment ring to create a negative pressure within the second inner wall relative to the first inner wall to cause a reverse flow within the second inner wall. a first inner wall having a first inner diameter; a second inner wall having a second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter, wherein at least a portion of the first labyrinth knife set is positioned radially between the first and the second inner diameters (216, 220); a step having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the step transitions to the first inner wall and the second end of the step transitions to the second inner wall; and a plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) that passes partially through the step and through the first inner wall, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) is configured to allow at least one of a liquid and a gas from within the stator to flow through the stator, wherein the rotor is positionable in the stator such that first labyrinth knife set is positioned axially within the first inner wall and the second labyrinth set is positioned axially within the second inner wall, and wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures (224, 226, 228, 230, 234, 236, 238) is adjustable by way of an aperture adjustment ring to create a negative pressure within the second inner wall relative to the first inner wall to cause a reverse flow within the second inner wall.